Scars decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing service treatment records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated medical records and for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable due to his coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and other conditions. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD, right knee degenerative joint disease with scar, left knee injury with instability and scar, and left knee degenerative joint disease status post surgical repair have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest possible rating under VA guidelines.,The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from the October 2014 VA examiner regarding the Veteran's heart disorder.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is shown to have had its inception in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of compensable evaluations for penile herpes simplex, scar from an appendectomy, and hemorrhoids are remanded due to a need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not include the anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands, blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity, deep partial thickness burns that have resulted in contractures with limitation of motion of two or more extremities or of at least one extremity and the trunk, full thickness or subdermal burns that have resulted in contractures with limitation of motion of one or more extremities or the trunk, or residuals of an inhalation injury. Therefore, his claim for a special home adaptation grant is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing federal records, specifically 1992 VA treatment records for a right thumb tendon transfer surgery. The Veteran's service treatment records and Reserve service verification are also needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the right wrist disability receiving a 10% rating and the right second finger scar receiving separate 10% ratings as of March 14, 2013. The issues related to service connection are resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for an examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues include evaluations for circadian rhythm sleep disorder, right ankle osteoarthritis, and a right ankle scar.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability and residuals of a right orchiectomy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for spinal cysts, scars of the spine, hepatitis B, and bladder cancer have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for these issues.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and prostatectomy scars have been denied as there is no evidence of penile deformity or deep, nonlinear scars covering areas greater than 6 square inches.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service due to the need for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected right eye corneal scar is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's right elbow disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his eczematous dermatitis is also rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now receiving a separate 10 percent rating for his painful scar on the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability was not incurred in active duty service and is therefore denied.