Scars decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from her OB/GYN and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of her service-connected C-section scars on her current health issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's current tension-type headaches are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities, including the medications required for those disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient detail in the February 2014 VA examination report and the need for additional line of duty determinations, SSA records, treatment records from the San Antonio Orthopaedic Group, and any other relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected residual scar status post right fourth toe surgeries is being remanded due to the need for updated clinical records and a contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The case will be reconsidered after these are obtained.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the service-connected dorsolumbar SFW scar, finding that a 10 percent rating was appropriate based on the Veteran's current symptoms and diagnostic code.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU and her combined rating was at least 70 percent, rendering her unemployable prior to January 6, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected status-post excision of a pilonidal abscess with residual scar is rated at 10 percent, effective as of the date of the decision. The low back disability claim was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be so disabling as to prevent him from dressing himself and result in physical incapacity which requires care or assistance on a regular basis. The Board finds that the Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to symptoms of diffuse bilateral upper and lower extremity weakness and dysphagia resulting in an inability to ambulate and difficulty with activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, personal hygiene, and medication management.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder, right eye disorder (corneal abrasion), or right knee disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since the date of his claim, effective March 2012.,The Veteran's CAD and diabetes mellitus are both rated at 60% prior to January 17, 2012, and thereafter at 30%. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20%, and tinnitus at 10%. Bilateral hearing loss has no compensable rating.,The Veteran was granted service connection for erectile dysfunction with SMC effective January 17, 2012. He also received service connection for sternotomy scar and coronary artery disease effective August 20, 2010.,Service connection is granted for B-cell Leukemia as due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). Service connection is denied for chlorance and soft tissue sarcoma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have partial blindness in the left eye due to scar tissue, but finds service connection for a residual corneal scar from an in-service corneal disruption is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for left eye macular scar, left elbow strain, left hip strain, and sinusitis/rhinitis are denied as there is no legal basis for awarding an effective date prior to January 7, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so disabling that he needs regular aid and attendance to dress, feed himself, and protect him from hazards in his daily environment. The Board finds the Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection has been denied as the earliest date of receipt of a claim is May 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to March 12, 2013 is being remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's service-connected left index finger amputation and scar disabilities are rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria, and there is no evidence of additional disability or unemployability due to these conditions.