Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2000

The Board found that the appellant's hypertensive heart disease has materially improved under ordinary conditions of life and work, warranting a reduction from a 40 percent rating to a 30 percent rating effective November 1, 1991. The eczematoid dermatitis issue remains unresolved.

The Board found the claim for direct service connection well-grounded, but denied the secondary service connection claim as there was no medical evidence showing a nexus between the veteran's current skin disorder and her asthma medication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection to arthritis, secondary to medications taken for a service-connected duodenal ulcer disability; whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen a claim for a skin disorder; and service connection for a skin disorder. The decision on the lipoma claim is pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition is well-grounded. The RO will conduct further examination and review the expanded record to determine whether service connection should be granted.

The veteran's asthma, thoracic spine injury, folliculitis of scalp and pityriasis rosea of back are all rated at the minimum level. The claim for PTSD is not well-grounded, and service connection for chronic gum disease and plantar fasciitis of left foot (claimed as a left foot disorder) is also not well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and tinea pedis are not well grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as psoriasis, is related to his service-connected schizophrenia. The Board finds the claim plausible and thus well-grounded.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis of the face and scalp, finding that the condition is appropriately rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly pension benefits due to her income exceeding the statutory limit, and also denied her claim based on unemployability due to her disabilities. The case is remanded for a statement of the case regarding these issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and chloracne, finding that there was no credible evidence supporting these conditions or their onset during active service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for Bowen's Disease as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange, finding that there was no evidence linking the disease to active service or to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a mouth condition. The claims for sebaceous cysts with acne rosacea, miliaria rubra, tinea corporis, prurigo nodularis, and folliculitis were well grounded. The claim for Reiter's syndrome/polyarthralgia was also well grounded. However, the claims for bilateral leg pains due to fractures and back pain other than Reiter's syndrome/polyarthralgia were not well grounded.

The VA determined that the appellant's nonservice-connected disabilities do not combine to render him unemployable, and thus denied his claim for a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for acneform eruption, claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure, due to new and material evidence. However, there is no evidence linking the current condition to military service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as dermatophytosis and nummular eczema, has been rated at zero percent since March 1960. The VA determined that the current evidence does not support a compensable rating for his service-connected dermatophytosis of the arms, hands, and feet.