Scars decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining verification of the Veteran's service in the Persian Gulf War and providing appropriate VA examinations to assess his eye disorders, shoulder disorders, foot plantar fasciitis, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder scar is rated at 10 percent, effective as of the date of this decision. The right ankle disability remains rated at 10 percent.

Service connection was granted for a bilateral knee disorder, but service connection remains denied for cervical spine disorder and hearing loss.,A higher rating is sought for the low back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected shrapnel wound scars affecting his right ankle, right thigh, left thigh, and left buttock were denied as the Veteran did not report for a VA examination to evaluate these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's service-connected scarring, associated with residuals of excision of tumor, left parotid is rated at 30 percent disabling. The claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spondylolisthesis and scar conditions. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's service periods and obtain his medical records. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected postoperative cholecystectomy with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his service-connected left middle finger injury with scar and left ring finger disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his chronic peptic ulcer with duodenal scarring was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent. The effective date remains pending as the issue of an earlier effective date has not been adjudicated.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, and finds that his current scar on the back of his neck is related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including post-operative residuals of a fractured right distal tibia and fibula, lumbar DDD, patellofemoral arthritis of the right knee, residual scar on the right ankle, and osteoarthritis of the right foot, have been found to be so disabling as to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a scar on the sole of his right foot and for residuals of a left forearm fracture. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his scar, right thoracic wound, status post stab wound, remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple scars, including those on the forehead, right thumb, right wrist, right lower abdomen, and bilateral legs, to include as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The claim for VA dental treatment is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records. The issue of service connection for residuals of gall bladder removal will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's left thumb arthritis is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, and his laceration scars are not service-connected. The decision grants the increased rating for left thumb arthritis.