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

The veteran's skin condition, including atopic dermatitis, violaceous papules on the face and neck, dermatophyte infection (tinea cruris and corpora), and chronic severe generalized rash, is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that service connection for a rash on the hands and armpits (diagnosed as psoriasis vulgaris) is not warranted, and the veteran's multiple joint pains of the neck, shoulders, and hands were also not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to a lack of evidence linking his current condition to events in service. The only post-service medical record is from 20 years after discharge, and there is no competent evidence that his current non-descript rash on the beard area is related to his service.

The Board found that the veteran's tinea pedis with onychomycosis was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's skin rash, diagnosed as tinea versicolor, angioneurotic edema and psoriasiform dermatitis, did not warrant a higher evaluation prior to April 23, 2003. The evidence showed sporadic periods of active skin disease process with no extensive lesions or systemic therapy.

The veteran's claims for service connection for joint pains, headaches, blepharitis of the eyes, and eczema or skin rash were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected atopic dermatitis, effective March 6, 2001. The condition is manifested by a dry skin rash on the neck, upper arms, chest, back, and occasionally eyes, requiring treatment with topical corticosteroids.

The veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is markedly disfiguring, with an area of approximately 204 square centimeters affected. The Board found that a rating in excess of 30 percent was not warranted under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's current skin condition, including chloracne, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and could not be presumed to be due to any herbicide exposure therein. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain are being remanded. The initial rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied, as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under current diagnostic codes. The initial rating for left ankle sprain is also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chloracne due to new and material evidence submitted by the veteran. The issue of whether there is a nexus between the veteran's chloracne and his service exposure in Vietnam remains pending.

The veteran's skin rash and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were not found to be related to his military service. The claims for asthma, hypertension, arthritis, and tinea pedis were all denied as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dermatitis did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to September 30, 2003 and since then. The claim is denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee disability and denied service connection for his skin condition, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service.

The veteran's death was due to renal failure, but his service-connected COPD contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.