Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2002

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include seeking an increased evaluation for dermatitis, service connection for squamous cell carcinoma as secondary to dermatitis, and service connection for actinic keratosis as secondary to dermatitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current skin condition, diagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis, is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that chloracne was not incurred during service and is not related to Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for chloracne secondary to exposure to Agent Orange was denied.

The veteran's PTSD, asthma, and other service-connected conditions resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent as of May 27, 1999. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are established based on when the disabilities became factually ascertainable.

The Board has granted service connection for acne scarring of the face and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective from November 23, 2000. The claim for a compensable evaluation for sebaceous cysts of the back remains denied.

The Board found no evidence to support an earlier effective date for the veteran's 100% disability rating for psoriasis prior to November 29, 1995.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions, including skin problems, visual difficulties, headaches and dizziness, liver disease or disability, cardiovascular disorder, runny nose, fever, intolerance to cold, and elevated cholesterol levels.

The Board found that the veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was a congenital or developmental disorder and denied service connection. However, the Board also acknowledged the continuity of post-service symptomatology for folliculitis and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to October 7, 1996 did not meet the schedular requirements for a total rating based on unemployability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, dermatitis, and increased evaluations for PTSD, traumatic arthritis of the left elbow with retained metallic fragments, and gunshot wound to the right posterior thigh were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of cataract, pterygium, malaria, or skin disease (psoriasis) and therefore cannot establish service connection for any of these conditions.

The veteran's skin disorder of the groin and feet was not caused by service, but is presumed to be related to his Gulf War service.,His chronic blood disorder began after service and is not currently present. It is presumed to be related to his Gulf War service.,His liver lesion did not begin in service and is not currently present. It is presumed to be related to his Gulf War service.,His right kidney cyst was not caused by service and does not involve a disability.,The veteran's chronic fatigue began after service, but is presumed to be related to his Gulf War service and manifests as a syndrome similar to chronic fatigue syndrome.,There is no diagnosed condition involving shortness of breath that is attributable to service. The veteran has developed an undiagnosed illness associated with Gulf War service that manifests as shortness of breath.,The veteran's dizziness began after service, but he has developed an undiagnosed illness associated with Gulf War service that manifests as dizziness.,The veteran's chronic joint and muscle pain began after service, but is presumed to be related to his Gulf War service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current skin conditions of psoriasis, eczema, or erythema multiforme. The medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne and other acneform diseases, claimed as the result of exposure to Agent Orange, is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of chloracne or an acneform disease consistent with chloracne within a year after separation from service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for chloracne secondary to exposure to herbicides, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.