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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a skin disability, including folliculitis, that is due to disease or injury incurred in service. The currently demonstrated folliculitis was not shown to be related to Agent Orange exposure or any other event or incident of the veteran's period of active duty.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected photodermatitis, effective from August 30, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, stomach cancer, brain abscess, chloracne, PTSD, and chondromalacia of the left patella. The appeal is considered 'unknown' in terms of service connection.

The veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a low back disorder was denied. His claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder was granted with a 50% rating effective from June 20, 2005. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for acne of the face, back, and shoulders was denied.

The veteran's folliculitis was denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent from August 19, 1997 to August 29, 2002 and a rating of 60 percent effective August 30, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unemployable as a result of these conditions and that he failed to comply with the Board's remand instructions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, PTSD, skin condition (stasis dermatitis), and bilateral cataracts. The reasons were that there was no verified in-service stressor for PTSD, no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or ionizing radiation, and no diagnosed conditions related to these exposures.

The Board found that the veteran's psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly divided and supports the claim for service connection for a recurrent skin rash that includes involvement of the legs and feet due to an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran did not file a claim for service connection for lung cancer prior to his death, and the appellant is not eligible for DIC benefits.,There was no pending claim for an increased evaluation of tinea versicolor at the time of the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee traumatic arthritis and seborrheic dermatitis due to incomplete development of evidence, including a need for VA medical examinations.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's dyshydrotic eczema, which affects her hands and left shoulder. The condition requires intermittent systemic therapy (Valtrex) for less than six weeks in the past year.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hallux valgus deformity (bunions) with osteoarthropathy of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joints and an initial evaluation greater than 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for a TDIU rating is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and tinea versicolor. For hypertension, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent was not warranted. For tinea versicolor, a compensable evaluation (10%) was granted for the period April 26, 1994, to August 29, 2002, but no increased rating was granted after that date.