Scars decisions — 2012

The Veteran's additional disabilities following his left lung lobectomy are due to the VA surgical procedure performed in February 1994, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a left upper lung lobectomy is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded for a VA examination to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The examination found the Veteran unable to work due to multiple service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus secondary to herbicide exposure. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure is inextricably intertwined with TDIU and must be remanded together.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for residuals of MRSA infection, including loss of sight in the right eye and throat/vocal cord problems. The case must be remanded to obtain a new VA examination.

The Veteran seeks an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral inguinal hernia repairs with residual scars. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's appeals seeking compensable ratings for upper left clavicle, upper anterior left arm, and posterior left shoulder basal cell carcinoma (BCC) removal scars have been dismissed due to the Veteran's failure to provide necessary authorizations for VA to secure outstanding records of private treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and CAD, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right great toe injury residuals and forehead scar do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected scars, including those on his forehead, left forearm, and fingers of the left hand, are rated at 10 percent under the old rating criteria. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation, earlier effective date for a 10 percent evaluation, and TDIU are denied. The Veteran's claim for compensation at the 100 percent rate since discharge from service is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including depression, a neck scar, Meniere's disease, and bilateral leg paralysis. The new and material evidence claims were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that the Veteran's current disability is related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The issue of an increased evaluation for a macular scar of the right eye remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his scar, left third middle finger, is denied as the medical evidence does not support a higher rating. The current 10 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity and symptomatology of this condition.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD-related memory loss, have rendered him unemployable consistent with his education and occupational experience. Therefore, the Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations were granted, with a 20 percent evaluation assigned for residuals of splenectomy and postoperative ventral hernia. Separate compensable evaluations were also granted for residual scars from shrapnel wounds.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for residuals of prostatectomy due to prostate cancer has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining in-patient clinical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of his hair loss and scars.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for sexual dysfunction. The remaining issues have been denied.