Scars decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for onychomycosis of the great toenails and residuals of the excision of a ganglion cyst, right wrist are denied as there is no evidence that either condition warrants an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran has been shown to have a scar of the right ankle area related to an in-service injury, and the Board finds that service connection for residuals of a right heel injury is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder contributed substantially to his death from congestive heart failure due to coronary artery disease and diabetes.

The Board has ordered additional development to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's skin disability, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that neither a disability shown in service nor a service-connected disability caused or contributed to his demise.

The Veteran's claims for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, scar residuals of the face and head, rhinitis, neck injury, low back injury, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy were all denied as not having their clinical onset in service or being otherwise related to active duty.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was not reopened due to the evidence received since December 2006 being cumulative or redundant of evidence at the time of the prior denial.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his GU disability and right knee conditions, have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered individually and combined, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on their severity alone. However, his age and other medical conditions are deemed to contribute to his unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's back scar, while present and noted in his medical records, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right eye disorder (other than the pre-existing corneal scar) is granted. The VA medical opinion supports that any current refractive error and other disabilities in the right eye are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected visual impairment of the left eye including astigmatism and a left cornea scar from December 20, 1973 to the present is being remanded due to incomplete notice in the supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left zygoma fracture and left trigeminal neuropathy with foreign bodies and scar were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for service connection of CLL with scar, status post lipoma removal, is granted as of December 15, 2006. The claim for PTSD remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a shrapnel wound scar of the scrotum and denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder and hemorrhoids. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of July 1, 2008 for a 10 percent rating for her right breast scar. The appeal was based on the merits and not service connection.

The Veteran's laceration scar on the right bicep is rated at 10 percent, effective September 22, 1986. The appeal for a higher rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected actinic purpura with scarring.