Scars decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and various service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO continued the initial 30 percent rating for PTSD, granted a 20 percent rating for scars to the anterior chest, left thigh, ankle, and right cheek, continued a 30 percent rating for disfiguring scar to the neck, continued a 20 percent rating for shell fragment wound residual to his left forearm, continued a 10 percent rating for right-sided weakness to the lower lip, continued a 10 percent rating for muscle weakness, continued a 10 percent rating for shell fragment wound residuals to the right leg, and denied TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and readjudicating the issues on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a left fourth finger scar and assigned an initial noncompensable disability rating, which is the maximum available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at least a 30 percent prior to November 17, 2012 and in excess of 50 percent on and after that date. The TDIU issue is also addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues with an examination for the Veteran's service-connected left hip scar. The claim will be reconsidered after any necessary examinations are completed.

The Veteran's upper lip scar resulted in pain and tenderness, warranting a 10% rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic bilateral orchalgia and residual scar are being remanded to the RO for further consideration of the submitted evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right bicep scar is being remanded due to the need to obtain missing STRs and provide an opinion on the etiology of the scar.

The Board has granted service connection for malignant melanoma and scars due to surgical removal of malignant melanomas. Service connection for prostate cancer due to Agent Orange exposure is denied.

The Veteran's skin disability, specifically actinic keratosis with residual scarring, was found to warrant a rating of 30 percent prior to July 2, 2014 and denied for any higher ratings thereafter. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to November 6, 2013 is also denied.

The Veteran's scars of the left ankle and distal shin are rated at a compensable (10%) level, as they are painful on examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several issues, including service connection for right ear hearing loss and higher ratings for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, tender scar secondary to laceration and repair of the right ear, status post removal of the right and left great toenails, status post fracture of the distal fifth metatarsal with mild arthritis of the right foot, hallux valgus of both feet, and TMJ dysfunction.

The Veteran's combined disability rating does not meet the threshold for consideration of a schedular TDIU, as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The specific conditions and issues are related to service connection claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left middle finger disability and wound to right leg have been granted. The Board is unable to determine the appropriate initial rating for his left hip scar or fragment wound with retained artifact in/over the right atrium of the heart due to lack of evidence of current disabling symptoms.

The Veteran's left knee incision scar status post abscess results in pain and warrants a 10 percent initial rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to active duty service. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, mechanical low back pain, and residual scar of an excised ganglion cyst of the left wrist are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's right leg scar is rated as superficial and not painful or unstable, and does not cause any functional limitation. Therefore, a compensable rating for the scar is denied.