Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left iliotibial band partial tear, Osgood-Schlatter disease of both legs, and psuedofolliculitis barbae. The conditions are rated as noncompensable under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's low back disability, eczema, and keloid scars of the left leg are all found to be related to his service-connected right ankle and right foot disabilities. The claims for these conditions are therefore granted.

The VA denied a claim for an increased rating for bilateral tinea pedis, assigning a non-compensable evaluation and noting that the condition was primarily manifested by brownish discoloration affecting both lower extremities and feet.

The Board has determined that there is no legal entitlement to an effective date earlier than January 24, 2000 for the grant of service connection of hearing loss and chloracne. The veteran's claims were denied initially in 1996 due to lack of evidence of chronic disability subject to service connection. He attempted to reopen his claims multiple times but did not provide new and material evidence within one year of each denial. In February 2000, the RO received inquiries from Senators Smith and Wyden regarding the veteran's claims, which were construed as a claim to reopen. The effective date was set at January 24, 2000, based on these inquiries.

The veteran's anxiety disorder and PTSD are found to be secondary to his service-connected eczematous dermatitis. The veteran does not have a diagnosed chronic intestinal disorder or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but the evidence supports that his tinea pedis is related to his service-connected condition.

The veteran's death was caused by his service-connected skin condition, which contributed to the development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The Board finds that the evidence is about evenly balanced regarding this connection and grants both the cause-of-death claim and the DEA benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, cluster headaches, and residuals of a lower left leg injury. The appeals were based on his contention that he was exposed to certain conditions during service, but no such exposure is established in the record.

The veteran's skin disorder, including chloracne and allergic dermatitis, was not incurred or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated due to exposure to herbicides. The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current condition to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee disability is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right heel disability.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected contact dermatitis and photodermatitis, effective August 30, 2002. The condition covers more than 40 percent of exposed areas affected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and scrotal eczema (claimed as rashes on testicles), to include as due to Agent Orange exposure. The claim for PTSD was remanded.

The Board found that the veteran currently has dermatitis herpetiformis, but there is no evidence linking this condition to service. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.,Chloracne was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The right elbow condition, tinea versicolor, and headaches are not considered to be related to service.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for atopic dermatitis was denied as he failed to report for multiple VA examinations without good cause. His claim for service connection for tinnitus was not adjudicated due to lack of sufficient medical evidence.