Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including VA examinations and notification of the evidence needed to substantiate his claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including acne and chloracne. The Board also granted service connection for acne as incurred in military service.

The veteran's case is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and records, as well as potential application of new VA skin rating criteria. The veteran may receive a higher rating if his condition warrants it.

The veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as chronic, intermittent dermatitis of the chest and groin, was granted service connection. The claim for an increased rating for prostatitis associated with anxiety disorder remains denied.

The veteran's dysthymic disorder with a somatoform disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome is rated at 70 percent, fibromyalgia at 20 percent, arachnoid cyst at 10 percent, and seborrheic psoriasis does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic eczema, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's skin disorders rating schedule.

The VA determined that the veteran's psoriasis was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that pes planus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were linked to noise exposure during service, a skin rash and viral illness with dermatitis did not have evidence of an onset related to service, sleep apnea was not due to undiagnosed illness, irritable bowel syndrome was diagnosed years after service without evidence linking it to service, joint pain was also diagnosed post-service without evidence linking it to service, and residuals of mole removal were asymptomatic.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the veteran's service-connected PTSD and the claimed abdominal disorder, right renal calculi, left renal cyst, tinea corporis, and tinea cruris.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disorder and undiagnosed illness claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis but denied service connection for onychomycosis with secondary ingrown toenails.

The veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating, but his claims for service connection for thyroid cancer and dermatitis were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting examinations to address the veteran's claims.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety with depression is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his severe disability from this condition.

The Board has determined that a 10 percent rating is warranted for the veteran's dermatitis papillaris capillitis with residual alopecia of the posterior scalp, as this condition does not interfere with sleep and is relieved by keeping the scalp protected from sunlight. The condition affects less than 20 percent of the exposed areas.