Scars decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded gainful employment as of March 1, 2006. The Board granted TDIU effective March 1, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertonicity of the right plantar flexion muscle group, claimed as a right foot disability, is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and/or sciatic nerve paralysis, right lower extremity, associated with a lumbar spine disability.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and/or sciatic nerve paralysis, right lower extremity, associated with a lumbar spine disability. The Board has not made a determination on whether the Veteran's allergies and/or sinus disability are secondary to his service-connected scar, left nose.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 30, 2014, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter has been withdrawn. The remaining claims for increased or separate evaluations for residuals of lung cancer are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, burn scars of the right and left hands, service connection for pulmonary sarcoidosis, and service connection for enlarged prostate were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claim was for service connection for an abdominal scar, claimed as secondary to gastritis.

The Veteran's right thigh and right knee scars are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7804. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension substantially or materially contributed to the cause of his death from metastatic gastric cancer.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for left shoulder residual scarring associated with status post complete reconstruction of the left shoulder with residuals and recurrent injury, evaluated as 10 percent prior to August 3, 2011, and as 30 percent on and after August 3, 2011, has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's service-connected Grave's disease, post-thyroidectomy, is associated with thyroid eye disease. The Board has granted service connection for the thyroid eye disease on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left eye disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left eye disorder, but the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left testicle orchiectomy scar and postoperative appendicitis residuals, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an automobile allowance and specially adapted equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining gainful employment for which he would otherwise be qualified.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left femur fracture with degenerative arthritis of the knee and secondary service connection for back disorder and varicose veins were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new disability ratings or benefits.

The Veteran's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 was denied in November 2011, and the Board has now remanded the case back to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and clarifying whether the Veteran is requesting increased ratings or effective date changes.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The RO granted a 30 percent disability rating for the scar of the right side of his neck effective November 6, 2012.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before a decision can be reached on the merits of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her uterine fibroids residuals, including bladder disorder, hysterectomy residuals, and hysterectomy scars.