Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2008

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and chloracne as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a nexus to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a foot rash, to include tinea pedis, was remanded for further development including an examination and opinion on the etiology of any current foot rash.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder manifested by insomnia was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date was dismissed as it is not authorized by law.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the veteran's claims.

The appeal for service connection for cystic acne was withdrawn by the veteran, and thus the issue is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disease, including chloracne, as there was no competent medical evidence or diagnosis of chloracne at any time during or after service, and diagnoses of tinea versicolor dermatitis and/or ringworm originating in 2002 were not related causally to any incident, injury or exposure during the veteran's military service over 30 years earlier.

The Board concluded that the veteran's preexisting psoriasis did not chronically worsen during his active military service and denied service connection for psoriasis.

The veteran's service-connected status-post stress fracture of the left third metatarsal head was not compensable prior to May 3, 2007, and a 20 percent rating is assigned thereafter. The veteran's right foot scarring and left foot scarring are rated noncompensable, but he has been granted a 10 percent rating for the left foot scarring effective October 28, 2003, and a 30 percent rating for chronic dermatitis.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for chloracne was denied as there is no evidence of the condition prior to December 8, 2000, and the current manifestations do not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and to reopen service connection for a skin disorder, claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure, are being remanded for further development.

The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his skin disorder from February 28, 2005, to May 9, 2007, and the rating remained at 10 percent after May 10, 2007.

The veteran's service-connected skin condition does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, as it affects less than 20 percent of his entire body and exposed areas, and has not required systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, with the exception of a grant of service connection for GERD and arthritis in both knees.