Scars decisions — 2014

The Board finds that the Veteran's current manifestations of his service-connected postoperative left varicocele condition, including nonpainful scars and associated pain, warrant an analogous rating under Diagnostic Code 7804 for scars due to other causes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, variously diagnosed as adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression and depressive disorder, is granted. Service connection for genitofemoral neuralgia and small corneal scar are denied. The Veteran's mid back strain remains at a maximum of 20 percent prior to December 15, 2010 and 30 percent from that date.

The Veteran's right forearm disability is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 8516 for incomplete severe paralysis of the ulnar nerve. The Board finds that his current condition does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of complete paralysis or any other compensable manifestations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining gainful employment, thus the claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected scars, post-trauma to head and face did not result in decreased visual acuity, thus denying a separate compensable rating for decreased visual acuity as secondary to his service-connected scars.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease associated with hypertension, rated at 100 percent disabling from December 8, 2007, does not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU based on other service-connected disabilities. However, his peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities may still render him unemployable under an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran does not have cancer of the larynx with lung scarring, or a respiratory disorder to include COPD and pulmonary fibrosis that was caused by his service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the assignment of compensable ratings for his service-connected laceration scars, left eyebrow, mouth, lower lip and chin due to tenderness or disfigurement were denied as there was no valid Notice of Disagreement (NOD) submitted within the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if her service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a shrapnel fragment wound during service, and therefore could not establish service connection for a scar of the right forearm. The medical evidence showed that an in-service incision to treat a boil did not result in a scar.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 30 percent effective June 4, 2010.,Effective June 4, 2010, the Veteran has service connection for an anterior trunk scar and scars resulting from his coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).,The effective date for both service connection determinations is also set at June 4, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD is secondary to her service-connected hysterectomy, and she was granted a 30% disability rating effective from March 31, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for right arm burn scars and a left leg scar, finding that the evidence supports these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Schwannoma tumor of the spine and sciatic nerve with scarring developed during his period of active duty. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lung disability and therefore, service connection for a lung disability is denied. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for a residual scar on the chest due to chest tube replacement remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected burn scars have been rated based on the revised criteria effective October 23, 2008. For the entire rating period, his deep and nonlinear scar of the right biceps measured 11 x 21 cm with moderate underlying soft tissue loss; he had painful scars on his right biceps and triceps; and superficial and nonlinear burn scars covered a total area of 605 square cm. The Veteran's service-connected scars have not increased in severity over the course of the appeal, warranting denial of higher ratings.

The Board has granted a 10 percent initial schedular rating for the service-connected left forehead scar, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his scar, left index finger, residual of laceration, was granted with a noncompensable rating.

The Board finds that service connection is granted for tinea pedis of the feet, but not for scarring of the feet. The Veteran's tinea pedis was present during active military service and is considered a direct result thereof.