Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including chronic headaches, pseudofolliculitis barbae, skin rashes, upper respiratory infection, skin / nerve movements, ear aches, insomnia, and vision problems. The Board has determined that these claims require additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and skin disorder are service-connected as they were present during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eczema is not related to his service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and chronic back condition, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his psychiatric disorders and physical disabilities. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these factors.

The Veteran's acne is not shown to be deep or scarring, and does not affect more than 40% of the face and neck. The Board finds no basis for a compensable rating.,There is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for dermatofibroma of the bilateral lower extremities.,Service connection has not been established for allergic rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis, and several antibiotic allergies (claimed as allergies).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The combined disability rating is 60% from June 20, 2002, and 100% from July 11, 2005.

The Veteran's skin disorder (psoriasis) and arthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, including presumed herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 12, 2004, for service-connected PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not timely perfect his appeal and that VA had not waived the statutory time period for filing a Substantive Appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 60 percent for cystic acne with adenitis suppurativa of the axillae, to include on an extra-schedular basis pursuant to 38 C.F.R. � 3.321(b).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder associated with migraine headaches and migraine headaches, are shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if a skin condition involving the axillae and tinea pedis is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) is rated at 10 percent prior to February 25, 2009 and greater than 10 percent from that date. The disability covers less than 5% of the entire body or less than 5% of exposed areas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by an accident, and not due to his service-connected conditions. However, as he had been rated totally disabled for over five years prior to his death, the claimant is entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and left wrist arthritis. The claim for chloracne is also reopened. However, the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine whether these conditions are related to Agent Orange exposure or other causes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and a VA examination, including an opinion on the relationship between current skin conditions and in-service sun exposure.

The Veteran's skin disorders of the legs, feet, and toenails are presumed to be due to his service in Vietnam. His prostatitis is granted with a rating in excess of 40 percent from May 15, 2009 onwards. The Veteran's post-operative internal derangement of the right knee and degenerative joint disease of the right knee do not meet the criteria for increased ratings. Headaches are rated as 30 percent disabling prior to May 15, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Sjogren's syndrome and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent initial disability rating for folliculitis is granted. The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected folliculitis from November 3, 1993, to July 3, 2001.

The Veteran's lichen simplex chronicus and tinea cruris are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating based on the area of affected skin or use of systemic therapy. The Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted.