Scars decisions — 2013

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the issues related to scars on the head, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, melanoma and dental condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected recurrent pilonidal cyst with tender scar and incomplete rupture of the rectus femoris muscle, left leg, on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and a TDIU were denied. The RO assigned separate 20 percent ratings for right ankle inversion injury with history of fracture and ligament repair, and a separate 10 percent rating for right heel scar with paresthesia effective December 11, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to October 5, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA compensation examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service. The AMC attempted to reschedule the examination but was unsuccessful.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records from Dr. T. L. N.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA Form 646 from his authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for blurred vision due to a lack of opinion regarding whether his current condition is related to service or a service-connected disability. The case is now pending with instructions for scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension may be necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left upper extremity scars have been rated at 10 percent since February 2, 2010. The VA examiner found the scars to be productive of pain but without loss of skin covering or function.

The Veteran's onychomycosis of the feet is found to be a complication of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and thus, service connection for that disorder is granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for her abdominal scar was granted, with an effective date of March 11, 2010. The current rating is 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for IBS and granted it. The claims for stomach disorders, incisional hernia with post-operative scar, and migraines are also addressed.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for hearing loss and found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying a TDIU.

The Veteran's right thigh shrapnel wound scars were rated at 10 percent prior to October 23, 2008 and at 20 percent since that date.

The Veteran's scar, plantar surface of the right foot, was initially rated as non-compensable prior to July 23, 2009. From that date forward, a 10 percent rating has been assigned for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 1, 2009 for payment of additional compensation for his current spouse. The decision was based on the fact that notice of his marriage to his current spouse was not received at the RO within one year of their marriage or prior to February 10, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have varicosities of the lower right leg as a result of service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.