Scars decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and service treatment records. The claims will be re-adjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including osteoarthritis and surgical scars from a bunionectomy, is currently rated at 20 percent. The appeal for an increased rating remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the severity of his service-connected chronic prostatitis and right corneal retinal scarring, including symptom flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and a right elbow scar. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right shoulder condition, and for any additional treatment records to be obtained.

The Veteran's lung disorder with scarring is granted as service-connected due to a gunshot wound sustained during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's excessive burn scars of the neck and chest with a sweat gland disorder and dyspnea are not service-connected, as there is no evidence to support the claim based on aggravation during service or any other theory of entitlement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left rib cage scars are related to an incident in service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the cumulative impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, and to determine if he meets the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 17, 2007 was denied as she did not meet the schedular requirements and there was no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for her service-connected scars from bilateral breast reduction surgery was granted, with a 20 percent rating effective May 12, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for residuals of shrapnel wounds involving the left leg, right arm, and left arm has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee scars are rated at 10 percent since July 3, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right leg scar, characterized by one painful and deep scar measuring 5.1 square inches (33.0 square centimeters), is rated at a compensable initial rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's severe scarring of the chest and long-term infection drainage suction tubing were caused by MRSA infection during his hospitalization for CABG surgery in February 2013, which was not reasonably foreseeable. The Board finds that this resulted from fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disability, which includes both neurologic and scar impairment. Additionally, private treatment records must be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left eye disability and for any available VA treatment records to be obtained.

The Veteran's scar from a laceration of the right axilla measures 4.5 centimeters by 4 millimeters, is superficial, well-healed and without symptoms. The Board finds that this does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's chest scar has been evaluated as noncompensable since the grant of service connection. The VA examiner found no deep, unstable, or painful scars that would warrant a compensable evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.