92 Decision Citation: BVA 92-02789 Y92 BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS WASHINGTON, D.C. 20420 DOCKET NO. 91-38 523 ) DATE ) ) ) THE ISSUES 1. Entitlement to service connection for tinea versicolor. 2. Entitlement to service connection for other fungal infections of the skin and nails. REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Kenneth B. Satlin, Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran served on active duty in October 1974, from August 1975 to November 1980, and from December 1980 to November 1982. This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (the Board) on appeal from a rating decision of August 1990 from the Indianapolis, Indiana, Regional Office (hereinafter RO), which denied service connection for tinea versicolor and for other fungal infections of the skin and nails. The notice of disagreement was received in September 1990. A statement of the case was issued in December 1990. A substantive appeal was received in January 1991. A supplemental statement of the case was issued in March 1991. The case was received at the Board in July 1991 and docketed in August 1991. The veteran has been represented throughout the appeal by the Disabled American Veterans. That organization submitted additional written argument in October 1991, and the case is ready for appellate consideration. CONTENTIONS OF APPELLANT ON APPEAL The veteran contends that his skin disorders had their inception during service and that he has been continually bothered by skin disorders since separation from service. He maintains that the skin disorders have increased in severity over the years and that he has treated the disorder since separation from service by the use of over-the-counter medications such as Selsun and Benadryl. DECISION OF THE BOARD For the reasons and bases hereinafter set forth, it is the decision of the Board that the preponderance of the evidence shows that the veteran's tinea versicolor had its inception during service, warranting service connection, but that other fungal infections of the skin and nails were not incurred in or aggravated by service. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. All relevant evidence necessary for an equitable disposition of the veteran's appeal has been obtained by the RO. 2. Tinea versicolor had its inception during service. 3. A chronic fungal infection, other than tinea versicolor, was not present during service and a continuity of symptomatology following separation from service has not been demonstrated for other chronic fungal infections. 4. The only current chronic fungal infection from which the veteran suffers, other than tinea versicolor, is tinea pedis. That disorder was not present during service or for years thereafter. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. Tinea versicolor was incurred during active military service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107 (1991) (formerly §§ 310, 331, 3007, recodified in 1991); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b) (1991). 2. Other chronic fungal infections of the skin and nails were not incurred in or aggravated during active military service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107 (1991) (formerly §§ 310, 331, 3007, recodified in 1991); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b) (1991). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS We have found that the veteran's claim is "well grounded" within the meaning of 38 U.S.C. § 5107. That is, we find that he has presented a claim that is plausible. We are also satisfied that all relevant facts have been properly developed and that no further assistance is required to comply with the duty to assist the veteran mandated by 38 U.S.C. § 5107. I. TINEA VERSICOLOR The law provides that service connection may be granted for disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131. Additionally, with chronic disease shown as such in service so as to permit a finding of service connection, subsequent manifestations of the same chronic disease at any later date, however remote, are service-connected, unless clearly attributable to intercurrent causes. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b). The service medical records show that in April 1978 the veteran was treated for a tinea infection, and tinea versicolor on the back and chest was noted at the time of the separation physical examination in October 1982. Tinea is a name applied to many kinds of fungal infections of the skin. Tinea versicolor is a common chronic, noninflammatory and usually symptomless disorder, characterized by occurrence of multiple macular patches, of all sizes and shapes, varying from whitish to fawn color or brown. It is seen most frequently in hot, humid tropical regions. See, Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary 1585-1586 (24th ed. 1965). The veteran has acknowledged that he has not been treated by a physician for his skin disorder since discharge from the military. He explains that he continued to use over-the-counter medication such as Selsun and Benadryl, as had been ordered from his last duty station, with no relief. At the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) dermatology examination in September 1990, the veteran reported a history of a rash ever since being in the service in the South Seas 10 years earlier. The examination resulted in an impression that included tinea versicolor. A VA hospital discharge summary shows that the veteran was hospitalized in September 1990, for one day, for abdominal pain, and during this admission there was also a diagnosis of tinea versicolor skin infection. That disorder is a common chronic disorder that was first noted during service. There has been no showing that the tinea versicolor is clearly attributable to intercurrent causes. A preponderance of the evidence, therefore, supports a finding that the tinea versicolor had its inception during his active military service. II. OTHER FUNGAL INFECTIONS OF THE SKIN AND NAILS Although the service medical records show that the veteran was treated for a probable fungal infection of the fingernails in April 1978, that disorder was not shown to be chronic. The only skin disorder noted on the separation physical examination in October 1982 was tinea versicolor of the back and chest. The post-service medical records do not show a continuity of symptomatology following separation from service for any fungal infection of the skin or nails, other than tinea versicolor. The September 1990 dermatology examination disclosed only tinea versicolor and tinea pedis. Tinea pedis is commonly referred to as athlete's foot. Because tinea pedis was not present during service, or for many years thereafter, the evidence of record is not sufficient to warrant service-connection for that disorder. Accordingly, the preponderance of the evidence is against service connection for fungal infections of the skin and nails, other than tinea versicolor. (NOTE: The section numbers of title 38, United States Code, were changed in 1991. The new section numbers are given above, followed, in parentheses, by "formerly §" and the old section numbers in effect prior to the 1991 revisions.) ORDER Service connection for tinea versicolor is granted. Service connection other fungal infections of the skin and nails is denied. BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS WASHINGTON, D.C. 20420 WILLIAM O. BAILEY, JR., M.D. M. SABULSKY L. W. TOBIN NOTICE OF APPELLATE RIGHTS: Under 38 U.S.C. § 7266 (1991) (formerly § 4066, recodified in 1991), a decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals granting less than the complete benefit, or benefits, sought on appeal is appealable to the United States Court of Veterans Appeals within 120 days from the date of mailing of notice of the decision, provided that a Notice of Disagreement concerning an issue which was before the Board was filed with the agency of original jurisdiction on or after November 18, 1988 (see sec. 402 of the Veterans' Judicial Review Act (Pub. L. 100-687)). The date which appears on the face of this decision constitutes the date of mailing and the copy of this decision which you have received is your notice of the action taken on your appeal by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.