Scars decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to issues being inextricably intertwined with the issue on appeal, specifically whether the service-connected residuals of a vasectomy with bilateral varicocele encompasses the post-vasectomy pain syndrome claim raised by the Veteran. The case is also remanded for readjudication of the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for scars, residual status post vasectomy.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due solely to the effects of his service-connected disabilities, which have resulted in a combined disability evaluation of 80 percent. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for boils on the head was denied in June 2005, and no new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied in June 2005. New and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 10 percent since October 7, 2010. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the right shoulder disability effective from October 7, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment commensurate with his education and training background.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for her left breast biopsy scars was granted, but the RO has since increased her disability evaluation to 20 percent effective May 11, 2012. The Board finds that she is not entitled to an even higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear numbness, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder were denied. The facial scar was rated as 10% prior to May 12, 2014, and remains at that rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including consideration of the new evidence and application of the appropriate rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VAMC records from February 2015 onwards and a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal regarding initial compensable disability ratings for ejaculatory anhedonia/secondary anorgasmia and scar, right little finger. The remaining claims are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD from January 30, 2008 to July 18, 2012. The Board has granted a 10% disability rating for the right shoulder surgical scar from January 21, 2011 to December 30, 2014.

The Veteran's residual scar from head injury is rated at a 10% evaluation, effective December 15, 2010.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is presumed to have been incurred during active duty service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since August 26, 2010.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for complications from gall bladder surgery, including surgical scars and allergic reactions to tape used post-surgery. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran sustained additional disability due to VA care.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are rated as 10 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to the frequency and severity of her headaches. The ratings for the scars on the left hand and elbow remain unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a VA examination and adjudicate the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for service-connected parenchymal scarring, right middle lobe and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and prostatitis, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 1, 2008. The Board has determined that the effective date for TDIU should be December 1, 2008.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his service-connected right knee internal derangement, right clavicle fracture status post surgery, hypertension and scar, status post right clavicle surgery have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals by the Veteran.