Scars decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since December 11, 2009. The claim for a TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye corneal scar, finding that the Veteran's current condition is of service origin. However, it denied service connection for cataracts and presbyopia, concluding they are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, diagnosed as nodulocystic acne with residual scarring of the chest and back, and claimed as chloracne. The Veteran developed this condition during his military service and has had recurrent symptoms since then.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of this claim, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development as the current assessments do not adequately address the impact of her service-connected disabilities on her ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected residual bilateral varicocele surgical scars do not warrant a compensable rating as they are superficial and do not affect his activities of daily living or employment.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his service-connected scar residuals of the left inguinal hernia repair was denied. Additionally, the Board found that a substantive appeal was not timely filed in response to the May 2010 Statement of the Case regarding the denial of service connection for left varicocele.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling examinations, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and ensuring that all claims are handled in an expeditious manner.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether his second degree burn and residual scar resulted from improper care provided by VA.

The Veteran's pilonidal cystectomy scar, located in the midline of the buttocks and measuring up to 8 cm by 0.5 cm, is currently rated at 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7804 due to its painful nature. The claim has been denied as there are no additional conditions or exposure bases that warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his left knee disability have been denied. The VA has determined that the current evidence does not support a higher rating based on either the scar or instability of the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and readjudication of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for abdominal neuralgia and residual scar, abdominal have been denied. The Veteran's service-connected abdominal scar is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted, subject to the controlling regulations applicable to the payment of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated medical records and for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and S1 radiculopathy with weakness of the right foot dorsiflexors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and initial compensable evaluations for facial scars on the nose and right upper lip were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his pilonidal cyst and postoperative scar were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.