Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination and notification of the VCAA.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis and diabetes mellitus, finding that both conditions are related to the veteran's active duty. Service connection for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's skin condition (tinea versicolor). The issues regarding bilateral hearing loss, seizure disorder, and a higher rating for the skin condition are still pending.

The veteran's neurodermatitis is likely attributable to his military service and the Board finds that service connection is warranted for this condition. The claim of increased rating for residuals of a back injury and degenerative changes in the lumbar spine with right L4 radiculitis remains pending.

The Board is remanding the case for further examination and to obtain additional medical records related to the veteran's skin disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for residuals of hammertoe deformity, right second toe and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to new evidence submitted since previous decisions. The Board also found that these conditions were aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss is currently rated as Level III, warranting a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the veteran's skin disability (diagnosed as eczema) was incurred during his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus. The skin condition was not shown to be related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Diabetes mellitus did not require regulation of activities.

The cause of the veteran's death was adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, which is not presumed to be related to service exposure to herbicides. The Board finds no evidence that the veteran's pancreatic cancer was caused or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches and a right knee disability, are severe enough to prevent her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, chloracne due to Agent Orange exposure, and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) due to Agent Orange exposure. The veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for a combined schedular rating of 100% prior to January 27, 1999 is granted. The effective date is set as December 28, 2000.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinusitis and a compensable evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The other claim for an increased rating for bilateral tinea pedis has been decided.

The veteran's claims for service connection for seborrheic keratosis and dermatitis papilloma nigra, as well as his PTSD claim, were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a direct or presumptive link between the claimed conditions and service, including presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam.