Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2004

The veteran's skin condition, currently diagnosed as keratosis pilaris and xerosis with secondary pruritus and lichen simplex chronicus, has been rated at a 30 percent since August 20, 2002.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of both old and new rating criteria.

The VA has determined that the veteran's tinea pedis disability, which was previously rated at 10 percent, does not warrant a higher rating from October 2001 to August 30, 2002. Effective August 30, 2002, the disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for cystic acne of the face and chest, effective August 2, 1999. The maximum allowable under current criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's generalized skin disorder, now diagnosed as inverse psoriasis, is related to his service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's hidradenitis suppurativa with folliculitis is rated at 30 percent, reflecting symptoms analogous to exudation or itching constant and extensive lesions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic skin disorder to include chloracne claimed as the result of Agent Orange exposure and compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 (West 1991) for left below the knee amputation residuals, and also denied an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his post-operative lung cancer.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his skin conditions (tinea cruris and tinea corporis) was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The decision states that a VA examination was necessary to substantiate the claim, but the veteran failed to appear without good cause.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for folliculitis due to his failure to report for a VA examination. The case is remanded to obtain medical records of hypertension treatment and to determine whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, but the assigned disability ratings are not as favorable as requested. The initial compensable ratings were denied in several cases.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne and degenerative joint disease of multiple joints, including shoulders, hands, and knees. The denial was based on a lack of evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service, and no competent evidence linking them to his period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis-C and Neurodermatitis, finding no evidence to support a direct relationship with his military service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for muscle tension headaches, herpetic dermatitis, and memory loss were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for CFS and tinea veriscolor, finding that new evidence does not warrant reopening of her previous denial. The Board also noted that there is no indication of exposure to any specific agent or basis in the record.