Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) Board decisions

The Veteran's skin condition was rated at 10 percent prior to February 6, 2006 and then increased to 30 percent from February 6, 2006 through August 3, 2007. It has been rated at 10 percent since August 4, 2007 until March 30, 2010 when it was raised to 30 percent.,Since March 31, 2010, the Veteran's skin condition is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service does not meet the basic criteria for eligibility to nonservice-connected pension benefits as he did not serve during a period of war. The claims of service connection for TBI, nerve damage, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, facial acne, and respiratory disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for seborrheic dermatitis (now claimed as a skin condition of the face and scalp). The issue of whether the reopened claim should be granted remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's psoriasis existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The appeal for service connection for psoriasis, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture, but denied service connection for tinea pedis. The Veteran's left ankle condition is considered to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinea pedis has not been shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for perivascular dermatitis, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active duty military service and did not have a relationship to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his lumbosacral strain and tinea versicolor.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of the nature and severity of the Veteran's current skin disability, including whether neurodermatitis is included in the grant of service connection. The claims for higher ratings for tinea cruris will also be readjudicated, and a SOC on the timeliness issue will be issued.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to service, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's main contention has been that he suffers from chloracne which is related to his active duty service. However, the VA examination report concluded that the Veteran does not have chloracne but rather a diagnosis of 'Actinic/solar keratosis'. The Board finds that the preponderance of the competent evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has chloracne.

The Veteran's claim for a low back disability was denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current low back disability and concluded that the Veteran's current back pain is unrelated to his service. For dyshydrotic dermatitis of the bilateral hands and feet, jungle rot of the feet, and other unspecified skin conditions, additional medical evaluation or evidence may be needed.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are necessary to properly assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea versicolor, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, a heart disability, and kidney stones as there is no current disability associated with these conditions.

The VA has determined that the appellant's tinea pedis and dyshidrotic eczema do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as they cover less than 20% of his entire body or exposed areas.

The Veteran's urticaria with neurodermatitis and eczema was denied initial compensable evaluation prior to June 3, 2010, and a denial of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent since that date.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of service connection for right eye, giant cell conjunctivitis; left eye, giant cell conjunctivitis; allergies, hay fever; asbestos exposure; ionizing radiation exposure; contusion on the left thigh; left buttock contusion with hematoma; TMJ syndrome; closed head injury (claimed as left head injury); left ear pain; left forearm rash; pseudofolliculitis barbae; left finger injury (claimed as cut and scar); sinus bradycardia; exposure to smoke; exposure to JP4 (jet fuel); and a left femur fracture. The claim for service connection based on RF radiation exposure is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating prior to July 28, 2009 was denied. The claim for an increased rating as of July 28, 2009 also failed.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations and a nexus opinion regarding service connection.