Scars decisions — 2012

The Veteran is unable to find or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, with the exception of October 12, 2010 when he received a 100% rating. The issue is now moot after that date.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hidradentitis suppurative on the scrotal sack and superficial scarring of the ventral surface of the penis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD with depression, duodenal ulcer, coronary atherosclerosis, scar from bypass surgery, diabetes mellitus type II with impotence, and associated peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effect of these service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's service-connected scar and other residuals of splinter puncture wound to the left thigh. The case is also remanded for additional development regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection, whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected disability for any of the conditions she claims, including PTSD, hiatal hernia, hypertension, burn scar on the right middle finger, sleep disorder, hordeolum of the right eyelid, arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the knees, arthritis of the feet, arthritis of the hands, arthritis of the wrists, arthritis of the elbows, and arthritis of the right shoulder.

The Veteran's service-connected residual, laceration of the left forearm and wrist scar is manifested by weakened grip, fatigability and incoordination of the left hand and wrist that most nearly approximates severe injury of Muscle Group VII. The Board finds that a 30 percent rating, but no higher, has been met.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination to determine his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, including right wrist ankylosis. The RO must ensure all development actions are completed in accordance with the remand instructions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for urticaria, and denied compensable ratings for chondromalacia of the left knee and right knee prior to October 14, 2008. The claim for a compensable rating for residual scar from his fracture was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for drug and alcohol dependence, bilateral shoulder disorder, headache disorder, kidney disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, disturbances of motivation and mood), loss of smell, scars of the feet, and right eye disorder as they are not shown to have had their clinical onset during service or to be caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound on the right buttock is currently rated at 20 percent, and his service-connected gunshot wounds to the abdomen and bowel are each rated at 30 percent. The Veteran seeks higher ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected residual shell fragment wound scar of the left calf is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's effective date for a 10 percent disability rating for postoperative scar for osteochondroma, right femur is set to June 8, 2006. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the July 1976 decision denying service connection for a right knee disorder has been remanded.

The Veteran's current disabilities of Dupuytren's contracture, scarring, decreased sensation in the left hand, and meralgia paresthetica affecting the left thigh are found to be related to his in-service electric shock injury. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability or one that may be presumed to have been incurred in service. The medical evidence did not show a causal link between his service-connected condition and his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including residuals of a fracture of the left great toe and left great toe scar, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected right hand neuropathy with scarring was denied as the evidence did not support a greater than 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected plantar fasciitis with pes planus, status post plantar fascial release with scars, right and left foot are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's left lung disability, which included pleural scarring and chemical pleurodesis, was not found to warrant a compensable evaluation for the period from December 1, 2006, to July 25, 2010.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected ulcer scars of the left great toe and right heel have been evaluated as noncompensable, with no evidence of current ulcers or functional impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal for his claims regarding lumbar spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), eye disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, foot and leg disorder, sinusitis, left ankle scar, and tendonitis of the left leg and foot. As such, these issues are denied.