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

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects, including inadequate VCAA notice and failure to obtain service records. The veteran is given a year to respond with any additional evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and information from service records, as well as attempts to locate witnesses who may corroborate his claims of racial discrimination in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disorder characterized as pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and the veteran's irritable bowel syndrome, acne, allergic rhinitis, and atrial fibrillation are all rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chloracne was incurred in service and granted service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, but the veteran's original claim of service connection remains denied.

The Board found no relationship between the veteran's skin disorder, including acne, and his service or Agent Orange exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and chloracne based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his shell fragment wound to the right forearm and denied his attempt to reopen his previously denied skin disorder claim secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chloracne, diagnosed as acne vulgaris in August 2001 and confirmed as chloracne by Dr. D.R.S., is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam. As it manifested within a year of his last exposure to herbicides, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for low back, cervical spine, and eczema disabilities. The case is now remanded for additional evidence collection and examination.

The Board found that the veteran's psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are probably related to quinine ingestion during service in Vietnam, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran sustained a low back injury during service and has current chronic low back disability. The skin disorder is found to be secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating for service-connected acne vulgaris is warranted effective from September 25, 1986. The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation of his service-connected acne vulgaris will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.