Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2009

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a skin disease to include a skin rash, but denied both the new and material evidence claim as well as the initial rating claim for recurrent venereal warts with scarring and urethral dysfunction.

The VA determined that the Veteran's acne vulgaris does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not manifest deep inflamed nodules or pus-filled cysts affecting more than 40 percent of his face and neck. The Veteran was denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left thumb fracture residuals. The Veteran's residuals of a left thumb fracture do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation. The Veteran's tinea cruris does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, and his tinea pedis with intradermal reaction of the hands does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for essential hypertension was denied. His claim for increased evaluation of bilateral tinea pedis was not granted, and his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder (claimed as post-traumatic stress disorder) was granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for tinea versicolor, a skin disease (presumed secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and residuals of malaria are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a skin disability (chloracne), Peyronie's disease, colon-rectal polyps, and throat polyps. The denial is based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected disability for presbyopia and denied his claim. The issue of an increased rating for tinea pedis and dyshidrotic eczema is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of atopic dermatitis, finding that the earliest allowable effective date is February 7, 2003.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne or other acneform disease consistent with chloracne was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a diagnosis of such condition within one year after presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam, and thus could not be granted on a presumptive basis. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected esophageal spasms or GERD is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have Bell's palsy or mononucleosis, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for eczematous dermatitis, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure. The evidence received since the January 1986 decisional letter does not relate to a new or material fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran's skin disorder, folliculitis with excoriations, is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical treatment records, particularly those from September 2002 to September 2004.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, on his employability.