Scars decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of service-connected scars are being remanded due to the need for a new examination and review of VA treatment records.

The Veteran is entitled to initial compensable disability ratings of 10 percent for his left chest and two left posterior chest scars, prior to July 10, 2009.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right elbow scar, and skin disability (to include as due to herbicide exposure) have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining audiometric findings and a VA dermatology examination to evaluate his scars.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a respiratory disability, including pneumonia and scarring of the lungs. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to incomplete medical records and an examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected scars of the back of the neck, right and left shoulder areas, and mid back have been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 2007. The current rating is considered appropriate given the nature and extent of his scars.

The Veteran's second degree burn scar on the right ventral forearm is currently evaluated at 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for scar residuals of a right thumb laceration was denied. The Board found that the scars are not deep or nonlinear, and do not cover an area or areas of at least 6 square inches (39 square centimeters). Therefore, he is not entitled to a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected shrapnel wound of the left leg with residual scars is rated at 10 percent, effective from November 2007. The Veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss and has not been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to notification from his authorized representative prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current level of impairment due to his service-connected disabilities, including left olecranon sprain and ulnar nerve transposition. The rating assigned will be determined after further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examinations to determine his ability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, without considering nonservice-related factors such as age. The claim will be readjudicated after the examination reports are received.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination, as well as clarification of his work absences.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected lower back disability and its residuals render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's hip and gallbladder conditions were not found to warrant initial compensable evaluations. The thyroid condition, acromegaly, and seasonal allergic rhinitis have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: a claim for a compensable rating for service-connected residual scar of the left chest, status post left lung wedge resection (claimed as scarring of the chest, shoulder and back), and a claim for a compensable rating for service-connected esophageal stenosis with hiatal hernia. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, a scar of the right knee, and a left knee disability. The decision concluded that these disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.