Scars decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected right knee disorder and right knee scar were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period from June 5, 2009, to April 25, 2013. The Board granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) during this timeframe.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service, as it was diagnosed years after discharge and the medical evidence does not support a link.,The Veteran has a residual scar from a spider bite in service that still causes itching. The examiner confirmed this as a residual of an 1988 spider bite treated with outpatient surgery.,There is no clear and unmistakable evidence to show that the left ankle sprain existed prior to service, but its aggravation by service cannot be shown.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance as there was no certification from the Under Secretary of Health that the Veteran uses medication prescribed by a physician for his service-connected skin disability, which causes irreparable damage to the applicant's outer garments.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering the issues of increased evaluation for right ankle disability on both schedular and extraschedular bases, as well as a compensable initial rating for a surgical scar of the right ankle. The TDIU issue remains inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Veteran's right hand injury with residual scar and degenerative joint disease are rated at 10 percent each, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional examination and opinions to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions, including lung condition, keratosis of the whole body, and melanoma with scars. The claims are related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left foot plantar fasciitis and residual scar, status post fracture left tibia with tibial fixation were denied. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU is REMANDED.

The Veteran's eye disorders, other than a left corneal scar, and coordination disorder are not service-connected as they did not have their onset in service or are not otherwise attributable to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from July 15, 2010 to July 14, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for back and left elbow scars, assigning a combined noncompensable rating. Effective January 1, 1959, the Veteran's disability ratings have been increased to reflect moderate muscle injuries.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service-connected skin disability, including a review of private treatment records and an examination to assess the current status of his service-connected scars.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, are not of such nature and/or severity as to prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right sciatic nerve, bilateral hearing loss, and a scar of the right posterior thigh associated with a gunshot wound are denied. The claim for service connection for a right ankle sprain is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if he is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other physical conditions.

The Veteran's right upper eyelid scar, rated as noncompensably disabling, does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status. The Veteran is also not found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's request to increase her rating for status-post left breast complex fibroadenoma excision with scar was withdrawn prior to the issuance of a decision.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for allergic rhinitis, effective from the date of service connection.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for fallopian tube obstruction with infertility, effective from the date of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and extensions of temporary total rating and SMC benefits were denied as his right shoulder scar did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or extension beyond January 1, 2012.

The Veteran's post-operative left forearm malignant melanoma with painful and adherent scar (also claimed as sunburn) was not manifested in service, and a preponderance of the evidence is against finding it is related to service or caused by service.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was not manifested in service, and a preponderance of the evidence is against finding it is related to service or caused by service.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and he did not meet the criteria for non-service-connected burial benefits as his body was not held by a state or unclaimed. The appellant's claim was denied.