Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current skin disorder or soft bones condition, and there is no evidence of such conditions during service. The claim for service connection for these conditions was denied in November 1969 due to lack of pre-existing conditions. New evidence received since then did not provide new material information.

The Veteran's claims were granted, with some issues receiving increased evaluations and others having effective dates assigned. The service-connected conditions include left wrist fracture, left ankle disability, asthma, and a skin disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The RO granted service connection for right knee arthritis on April 7, 2004.

The Veteran's service connection claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had PFB during his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for mid-chest pain and shortness of breath is dismissed as the symptoms are already compensated by his service-connected thoracic spine disorder.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy was proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disorder.

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

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) on account of loss of use of both hands due to service-connected atopic dermatitis was denied as the condition does not meet the criteria for SMC.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum available benefit.,Prior to May 13, 2010, his tinea cruris was rated as noncompensable. From May 13, 2010 onwards, it has been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected atopic dermatitis alone renders him unemployable, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected folliculitis decalvans with cystic acne is found to affect his employability, and a VA examination is needed to assess the impact on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from October 6 to October 9, 2009 at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center were for emergency treatment due to a significant injury and could not be safely transferred to a VA facility until his condition stabilized on October 9, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psoriasis, depression, psoriatic arthritis, and scalp and face psoriasis, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings were denied. The earlier effective date claims for peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis has been reopened, and his PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent. The Veteran contends that a higher initial rating is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his eye disability is not service-connected.,There is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for irritant contact dermatitis, mild, post cubital fossa right knee, claimed as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for kidney and adrenal gland disability but granted reopening of the claims for increased ratings for tinea pedis, tinea crura, and onychomycosis. The Veteran's tinea pedis was rated as 10 percent prior to January 25, 2009, and 10 percent after March 1, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for contact dermatitis has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for seborrheic dermatitis or heart disease, as the conditions are not shown to have had their onset during service and there is insufficient medical evidence linking them to service. The Veteran's assertions were considered but deemed unsupported by credible evidence.