Scars decisions — 2015

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU for scars, depressive and body dysmorphic disorder, right fifth cranial nerve neuropathy of the tongue prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied referral on an extraschedular basis for the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating greater than 20 percent for right ankle instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure that his claims are evaluated in accordance with applicable rating criteria and medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his back disability and the current severity of his scar condition. The claims will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the current severity of his service-connected residuals, left foot injury. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 17, 2013 for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to July 27, 2012 for PTSD with depressive disorder NOS and her TDIU claim were both denied as she was not unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected scars, including those on his mid-sternum and lower extremities, are not more severe than a 10 percent rating. The claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Veteran's vertigo and chest scar have been granted service connection, with a maximum initial rating of 30 percent for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death due to coronary pulmonale and pulmonary hypertension.

The Veteran's deep scar from a previous surgical procedure is rated at 20 percent, while the superficial scar does not meet criteria for any rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of surgical scars associated with his service-connected bilateral pes planus is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling since December 27, 2012. He was also granted a TDIU effective from December 27, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

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

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a Social and Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of signed informed consent for her partial thyroidectomy and a need for medical opinion regarding the cause of her post-thyroidectomy scarring.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for corneal astigmatism and scar, left eye is granted at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagitis, status post Nissen fundoplication with scars is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination by a gastroenterologist.