Scars decisions — 2013

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence regarding his specific learning disability and its impact on employment, as well as an assessment of the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected conditions did not warrant a higher rating or additional service connection. The scar of the left parietal area of the scalp, while present, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability, including any changes in symptoms and functional limitations. The case will be reconsidered based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for her service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed. The Board is remanding the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for a left knee scar.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis but denied service connection for a left eye disability, finding that the Veteran's current vision issues are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for right and left groin surgical scars are denied as there is no evidence showing a pending claim prior to September 25, 2007.,New evidence received since the March 1973 denial includes relevant official service department records not previously considered.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the service connection for a scar status post kidney operation is not granted due to the usual effects of surgical treatment in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disorder, ITP, recurrent infections, otalgia, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and right hip scar. The reasons were that these conditions did not manifest in service or are unrelated to service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for visual impairment of the left eye including astigmatism and a cornea scar was denied by the Board.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right fractured femur with residual scar and vertebral fracture have been granted, but he is seeking higher ratings. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and a new examination to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of his claimed conditions, and there is no evidence to support service connection for these disorders.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for an extra-schedular rating and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support entitlement to an extra-schedular rating, as no unusual or exceptional disability picture had been demonstrated. For TDIU, the combined evaluation of 80% met the minimum requirements but the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed insufficient for a finding of unemployability.

The Veteran's discoid lupus has been rated at 50 percent since the initial rating period, which is higher than the initially assigned 30 percent for this condition. The other knee conditions remain at their respective 10 percent ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left foot and right ankle conditions.

The Board denied reopening the claims for multiple sclerosis and acne and acne scarring due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for scarring of the genital area is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate ratings have been granted. He is now rated at 40 percent for his DJD of the lumbar spine, with a separate 10 percent rating for each knee condition.