Scars decisions — 2015

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and low back scar have been granted service connection, with a 20% initial rating for the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an eye injury and burn scars, as well as his claim to reopen the latter, were denied. His request for a higher initial rating for headaches was also denied. The TDIU claim was granted but with no effective date earlier than February 21, 2013. The SMC claim was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to September 28, 2012 interfered with his employability. From that date, he has established service connection for PTSD rated at 70%, making a 10% rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 not applicable.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability had its onset in service. The issues of increased ratings for the right shoulder disability and scar, right shoulder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected scars was denied. His claim for service connection of erectile dysfunction is pending and the TDIU claim prior to April 23, 2012, was also denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative joint disease of the left fifth finger is denied, but he is granted a 10 percent rating for his surgical scar on the top of his left hand.

The Board found that the reductions in ratings for the Veteran's left foot second toe MTP joint replacement disability and associated scar were not proper, and restored the original ratings.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for BCC of the head, face, and neck prior to May 11, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require the use of certain prosthetic or orthopedic appliances which tend to wear or tear clothing, thus denying his claim for a clothing allowance for the year 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and residual scars, status post coronary artery bypass graft, meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his physical limitations.

The Veteran's facial scar is rated at 30 percent disabling, effective January 7, 2013. He also has a painful facial scar that is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran meets the criteria for SMC based on loss of use of both legs.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, securing SSA disability benefits application records, and scheduling a VA social and industrial survey.

The Veteran's left thumb arthritis and scars from cesarean section were granted increased ratings, but her hypothyroidism was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral post-operative inguinal hernia scars, and right and left inguinal hernias have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 30 percent, which does not meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU. The evidence does not indicate that his service-connected disabilities alone prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right middle and ring fingers has been granted, along with an initial compensable rating for her residual scars. The Board found that there was a continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU based on his combined rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he no longer wishes to pursue the claim for a compensable rating for his residual appendectomy scar.