Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's current neurological disability, which he claims is related to a head injury sustained during service, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The other issues on appeal (PFB and PTSD) are remanded for further examination and review.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, finding that his current conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein due to herbicide exposure.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and found that the veteran's skin disability, including chloracne, is not related to service or exposure to Agent Orange. The issue of reopening a claim for service connection for PTSD was also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of chronic dermatitis is causally related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's acne vulgaris and hidradenitis suppurative condition beginning August 30, 2002. The previous rating of 30 percent was increased to reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's anxiety disorder, short-term memory loss, joint and muscle pain, weakness and fatigue, dishydrotic eczema, and tinea pedis. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension during service or within the one-year presumptive period after service. The veteran's current skin disability and right ear hearing loss are not linked to his active military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include loss of vision due to ocular histoplasmosis and tinnitus, are severe enough to prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for atopic dermatitis was denied due to his failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The veteran's service-connected dermatitis of the hands was rated at 30 percent since August 15, 1950. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as his disability was never rated at a 100% level prior to death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for scoliosis and a bilateral knee disability, as well as his claim for an increased rating for his skin condition. The veteran was not granted any of these claims.

The veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae is being remanded for additional examination and development to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence for the veteran's service-connected conditions from June 14, 1995 to October 30, 1995.

The veteran's skin disability, including acne with hypopigmented macules and a residual scar from an excised tumor, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The Board found no reasonable basis to grant the benefit sought on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and dermatitis. The claim for a higher rating for residuals of a fractured nasal bone was also denied.