Scars decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and skull fracture residuals, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 70 percent. However, the VA examiner opined that these conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran has scars as a result of his service-connected actinic keratosis (skin disorder). The Board finds that these scars are related to the treatment for his service-connected skin disorder and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further proceedings due to the need for an updated VA examination and consideration of his service-connected disabilities in determining his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected skin disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from April 22, 2003. Effective April 21, 2003, the Veteran is no longer unemployable solely due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board finds that the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depression, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to June 23, 2009.

The Veteran's third degree burn scar of the left scapula is rated at 20 percent, but does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of additional functional limitations.,The Veteran's scar of the posterior right axilla area is also rated at 20 percent and does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of additional functional limitations.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating prior to July 10, 2012, and in excess of 10 percent from that date for appendectomy scar was denied as the evidence did not show deep or limited motion scars.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, tinnitus, a scalp laceration scar, and PTSD. The issues include secondary service connection for hypertension, rating adjustments for PTSD, and an earlier effective date for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including panic disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 21, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's scar of the left wrist, finding no evidence of an etiological relationship between his diagnosed conditions and active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for left tibial hemangioma was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10 percent evaluation effective June 15, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis is the primary cause of his shortness of breath, which was not due to a cardiac disability. The left wrist and hand conditions are not service connected.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to February 28, 2007 for the awards of service connection for right (major) shoulder strain, left hip strain, lumbar strain, bilateral tinnitus, pes planus, left lateral leg scar residuals, post-operative pilonidal cyst removal scar residuals, and psoriasis is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a hearing at the RO in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings and service connection are not addressed as this matter has been returned to the RO.

The Veteran's PTSD, thoracic disc space narrowing, loss of left superior pectoralis muscle, and other service-connected conditions have been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for STDs, including gonorrhea and herpes, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability due to these conditions during his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and residuals of shell fragment wounds, are found to be severe enough to prevent him from securing or maintaining employment. The Board grants the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering his claim for an increased rating for scars from a vasectomy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, heart disability, and right eye macular degeneration/scar due to chemical burn during service. The rating for residuals of a chemical burn to the right eye was also denied.