Scars decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected callous of the right foot. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will also be addressed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and determining whether the Veteran desires a hearing. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's skeletal conditions, including knees, fractured ribs, a scarred lung, and hip, are not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including keloid scars, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), a right shoulder disability, a left shoulder disability, and a cervical spine disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim regarding keloid scars, and there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for the 10 percent rating for this postoperative scar from the right hip resurfacing surgery, making it retroactive to January 16, 2009. The Veteran will receive a little more than a year's worth of additional compensation at the 10-percent rate.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 26, 2008, for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was granted. The Board found that the evidence did not show worsening between July 14, 2008 and September 26, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected supraventricular tachycardia with atrial pacemaker placement and residual scar has been rated at 30 percent since May 21, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO in San Diego for a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating and service connection are pending.

The Board denied entitlement to extraschedular consideration for service-connected scars and TIA disabilities, finding that the schedular evaluations adequately encompassed the nature and extent of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's herpetic keratouveitis with secondary central corneal scar is related to his active military service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The SFW residuals of Muscle Group XX are currently rated at 40 percent, effective July 28, 2004.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as her combined disability rating throughout the period on appeal has been at least 70 percent, meeting the schedular requirement for a TDIU. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of the service-connected scarring associated with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance. The appeal is now pending again.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for service-connected scars was granted, with the effective date set at May 22, 2006.,Effective October 23, 2008, the Veteran received a maximum rating of 40 percent for his right ankle scar disability and a maximum rating of 20 percent for his right knee scar disability.

The Veteran's service-connected mastodynia, status post quadrantectomy, both breasts is rated at 50 percent effective October 18, 2008. She also has residual scars of the breast that are rated at 10 percent effective October 18, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board finds that the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance are met.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination for his claimed carpal tunnel syndrome and scar, as well as an assessment of whether any service-connected disabilities may have aggravated these conditions. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran's left side thoracotomy scar is rated at 10 percent, the maximum under current rating criteria. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his scar does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on its size or function.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including residual pain and inguinal hernia scar, make it impossible for him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.