Scars decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, along with other disabilities, precludes him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. However, his other service-connected conditions do not individually or in combination render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected arthritis of the cervical spine and keloidal acne with scar and recurrent infection are not granted as service connected or for increased rating, respectively. The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his post-operative incisional scar and muscle injury of the right thigh with retained foreign bodies remains before the Board. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to give the Veteran another opportunity to provide information and/or evidence pertinent to the claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including left middle ear cholesteatoma and various hand and wrist conditions. The effective dates are not specified.

The Veteran's permanent and total service-connected disability, including his left lower extremity disabilities and heart condition, effectively precludes him from locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. He is therefore entitled to specially adapted housing benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other symptoms associated with his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of signed informed consent for the VA keloid excision surgery on July 27, 2006. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again after obtaining the missing document.

The Board has granted service connection for a right anterior/lateral chest scar and assigned an initial noncompensable rating, effective January 14, 2013. The Veteran's scar is rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7804 due to pain.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for residual scars from a lymphadenopathy is denied.,Service connection for hepatitis C is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's facial scarring, depression, varicose veins of the lower extremities, and bilateral knee disabilities are all found to be related to her service. The right wrist disability is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's muscle injury due to left thigh gunshot wound with compound fracture of femur warrants a 40 percent evaluation, and his degenerative joint disease of the left knee does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a requested DRO hearing. He was previously scheduled for a videoconference hearing, but he did not attend.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right ankle surgical scar and residuals of a right ankle strain, status post fracture and surgical repair was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, back disability (including arthritis), left knee disability (including arthritis), and right knee disability (including arthritis) were denied. Service connection was granted for coronary artery disease with a 60% rating, PTSD with a 50% rating, diabetes mellitus type II with a 20% rating, and chest scar with a 10% rating from April 24, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability is manifested by painful motion and decreased range of motion, resulting in a 20 percent rating under DC 5201.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to obtain relevant medical records. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for bruxism, but not for tinea pedis or pulmonary scarring.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate rating of 30% for traumatic arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the left knee beginning April 6, 2015. He also received a compensable rating (30%) for residual scar, status-post cyst excision of the left calf effective April 6, 2015.