Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is withdrawn. The staphylococcal infection to the left knee resolved after treatment and is not currently shown. The cause of the Veteran's eczema is not related to his total knee replacement and thus is not a result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing the hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his neurodermatitis was granted, and he is currently rated at 10 percent. The claim for an increased rating for his cardiac arrhythmia was also granted, with a current rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for her bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied, but she was granted a higher evaluation of 10 percent for her left foot disability with hallux valgus and a 10 percent evaluation for her right foot disability with hallux valgus (excluding the period of September 3, 2009 to October 31, 2009).

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated, with the exception of the residuals of right tibia stress fractures and pseudofolliculitis barbae, which are assigned noncompensable ratings. The RO has granted a 10 percent rating for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was rated as noncompensable prior to February 29, 2008 and granted a 10 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for folliculitis, reopening of service connection claims for upper respiratory and bilateral hearing loss disabilities were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PFB has been rated as 30 percent disabling since August 30, 2002. The effective date for this rating is set at July 26, 2011.

The Veteran's tinea pedis was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating prior to February 20, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the claims for carotid body tumor, itchy bumps on scalp and fatty oily skin bump/acne under the eye, bowel constipation, extreme coughing until nauseous, sleep apnea, problems with teeth, numbness in arms and shoulders while sleeping, and enlarged prostate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for facial burns, pseudofolliculitis barbae, sinusitis, carpal tunnel syndrome (cervical radiculopathy), skin pruritus, rheumatoid arthritis with bone spurs of the right shoulder, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's low back disorder was incurred during her military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disorders, including congenital pes cavus and acquired hallux valgus deformities with accompanying metatarsalgia, very mild degenerative changes in the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, and mild degenerative joint disease of the midfoot, were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's skin disability was previously rated at 10 percent and granted an increased rating to 30 percent, effective March 27, 2007.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis and right thigh cellulitis, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions. The Board also found that any inservice cellulitis resolved without residuals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne and a skin condition other than chloracne was denied due to the lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found no chronicity of symptomatology during service and insufficient medical evidence linking current conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for paranoid type schizophrenia, previously characterized as dysthymic disorder, was granted. The case also addressed reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions and the assignment of a TDIU.

The Veteran's skin disabilities, including actinic keratosis and atypical moles, were not shown to be related to his active service or exposure to Agent Orange. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected eczema has been rated at 10 percent since July 23, 2009. The RO found that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on its current manifestations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The claims for service connection and TDIU are still pending.