Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for eczema, tinea pedis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal bone spur due to the absence of a current diagnosis or chronic residuals related to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and gastritis with reflux, finding new and material evidence. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed to be related to his military service.

The Board finds that the appellant's current skin condition, eczematous dermatitis, is at least as likely as not related to his exposure to jet fuel and cutting oil during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a skin rash is granted.

The Veteran's claims for chronic bronchitis and chronic conjunctivitis were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic skin disorder, including furunculosis, tinea glutealis, and tinea cruris, has been reopened. The evidence now shows that these conditions are as likely as not related to active service.

The Veteran's psoriasis affects less than 40% of his body and no systemic therapy is required, thus the initial disability rating for psoriasis remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's skin disability, including eczema with tinea infection, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The VA determined that the Veteran's tinea manuum does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it affects less than 5% of his entire body or exposed areas, and has not required intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for chloracne, to include as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence received since the last denial did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was manifested by small areas of papular lesions covering less than five percent of the body area and requiring no more than topical therapy on and prior to February 11, 2009. The RO denied a compensable evaluation for this condition.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for right ankle scars, effective October 8, 2008. The claim for a compensable rating for tinea pedis of the left foot is still pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of a compensable rating for any of his claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals, left leg mass excision due to new and material evidence received since the final denial in December 1990. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for dermatitis, left lower extremity is remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including psoriasis. The issue of whether his arthritis is secondary to his skin disorder remains pending and will be addressed in conjunction with this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and pes planus were denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's seborrhea/eczema did not warrant a higher rating prior to March 17, 2011 and since then has only warranted a 10% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied as there is no current evidence of a chronic skin or liver disability, nor does the adjustment disorder meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain VA medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA dermatology examination in order to determine if he has a current skin disability, including skin cancer, related to his active service. The Veteran's DD form 214 indicates he served in Vietnam during the Vietnam Era, which provides him with presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his acne conglobata of the neck and upper to mid-back, including any associated scarring, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.