Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a skin disorder (including as due to exposure to mustard gas) and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a VA dermatology examination and medical opinion to identify the exact nature and extent of his service-connected skin disability, including whether any current skin disorder is related to military service. The Veteran also wishes for SSA records to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and confirming school/work absences. The Veteran's initial ratings for migraine headaches, seborrheic dermatitis, and right ankle sprain will be reviewed after these developments.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were granted, with the grant of service connection for multiple diagnosed eye conditions resulting in a 70% disability rating. The Veteran was also awarded compensation based on his need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's folliculitis, which caused a foul odor and was 'exceptionally repugnant,' is rated at the maximum disability rating of 50 percent from November 3, 1993 to July 3, 2001.

The Veteran's facial and upper back acne vulgaris, left hip sciatica, and low back disability (including right-sided sciatica) are all found to be service-connected. The adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood is also granted.

The Veteran's chloracne has been granted service connection, and the issue of service connection for a skin disability other than scalp folliculitis and chloracne is remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, tinea pedis, and onychomycosis of all toenails. The effective date for the 10 percent rating for tinea cruris is set at May 9, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left thigh dermatitis was withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claim of service connection for right 1st metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to exposure to fuels and chemicals during service, including chloracne of the chest, respiratory problems, and a bilateral eye disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spinal degenerative disc disease, contact dermatitis (claimed as concrete poisoning), depression, essential tremors of the hands, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The decision also addressed a claim for right total hip arthroplasty but found no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, and his maxillary sinusitis and dermatitis are each rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since August 31, 2004.

The Board has restored the Veteran's tinea versicolor rating from a non-compensable to a 10 percent evaluation, effective March 1, 2010. The claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for hiatal hernia, gastritis with erosions, and Crohn's disease since March 28, 2013. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable. Service connection was established for perianal fistula, allergic rhinitis, residuals of a deviated septum, and folliculitis.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae and scarring of the trunk post-surgical removal of supernumerary nipples are not rated higher. The Veteran was granted service connection for sleep apnea and dental malocclusion.

The Veteran's atopic dermatitis was rated at 10 percent prior to November 19, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher rating based on the criteria for evaluating skin disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis A, chloracne, and soft tissue sarcoma has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran seeks benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1815 for his child's birth defects, which he claims are related to his mother's exposure to herbicides while in Vietnam. The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if the conditions are indeed birth defects and whether they are related to his mother's service.