Scars decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic organic heart disease was reopened, but his request for increased ratings for PFB with scarring and prostatitis were denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches and residuals of cystic acne vulgaris has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of headaches, which is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded as the VA has not obtained an opinion regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining this information.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering his claim for TDIU. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board finds that recoupment of the payment of special separation benefits in the amount $17,118 from the Veteran's VA disability benefits is proper and required by law.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for low back benign interdermal inclusion cysts. The outcome of this examination could affect his current scars rating.

The Veteran's appeal is for service connection for residuals of spontaneous pneumothoraces, other than scars. The Board has determined that the claim should be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the presence and etiology of these residuals.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence being added to the record, and further development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination of his left shoulder disability, including separate ratings for scars and muscle injury.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for separate compensable ratings for painful scars of the right shoulder, right flank, right iliac crest, and bilateral knees. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's head injury and facial scars were not incurred in line of duty due to his own misconduct. The claims for service connection for a left hand condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition are denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from being able to avoid the hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment without assistance, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for a scar located at the right lateral epicondyle of the humerus and hemorrhoids have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for shrapnel wound scar, right hand, with neuroma dorsum is denied as the evidence does not show that he has had three or more painful scars during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims of PTSD, erectile dysfunction, and a facial scar were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or that they are related to service.

The Veteran's right lower sensory deficit of the cutaneous nerve is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of service connection. The appeal for corneal degeneration arcus senilis was withdrawn.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and secondary burns with scarring due to medication error on the left forearm. The Board finds that while the Veteran reported decreased hearing acuity in his left ear during service, there is no post-service evidence of a current disability as defined by VA regulation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher evaluation at any time during the appeal period.