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

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Tinea Cruris due to Agent Orange exposure, and Peripheral Neuropathy and Chloracne due to Agent Orange exposure. The RO must issue a statement of the case on these issues.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims of service connection for muscle spasms and PLMS/myoclonus as an undiagnosed neurological illness, GERD, and tinea versicolor. The decision also indicates that further clarification is needed regarding the environmental hazards to which the appellant was exposed during his tour in the Persian Gulf War.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected skin disability was denied by the RO. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and schedule the veteran for a VA dermatological examination.

The veteran's tinea pedis of both feet is rated as a minimum compensable evaluation (10%) due to recurring symptoms, but not constant or severe enough for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for decreased visual acuity is pending. The appeal regarding the initial rating for his back disability has been denied, and he was granted a noncompensable rating for his eczema of the hands.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, hypertension at 10 percent, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee at 10 percent, and eczematous dyshidrosis of the feet has been granted a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 20, 1995, for a 10 percent rating for his service-connected neurodermatitis, eczema. The Board also found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in reducing the evaluation from 10 to zero percent in November 1972.

The Board has granted a 30% evaluation for acne, effective from July 1997. The veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae is not compensably rated as there is no evidence of the required manifestations.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected bilateral athlete's foot, effective from the date of his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for skin disability, finding that his statements regarding the onset of his skin disability were not credible and there was no medical evidence showing a link to service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's psoriasis and onychomycosis are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has found that the current symptomatology does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7806, but finds that separate ratings can be assigned for each condition.

The Board dismissed the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for chloracne due to herbicide exposure because he failed to respond to requests for information and evidence necessary to make a decision on the merits of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for alopecia areata and denied service connection for atrophic rhinitis and tinea pedis. The decision on tinea pedis remains pending as the RO is requested to obtain additional medical records.

The VA has granted an increased rating of 70% for the service-connected psychiatric disability effective April 22, 1999, but denied increased ratings for acne vulgaris and psychiatric disabilities prior to specific dates. The veteran's appeal is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The veteran's cystic acne and right ankle sprains have been granted increased evaluations, while service connection for a right shoulder contusion secondary to recurrent right ankle sprains has also been established.