Scars decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a Decision Review Officer hearing and issuing a supplemental statement of the case on the reduction rating issue. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated following these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in an inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the issues of increased rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining reasonably gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date, finding no evidence of a current disability in most cases or no causal link to service.

The Veteran's skin disability and lower extremity disabilities were not incurred during service or due to exposure to herbicides. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 14, 2010, for the grant of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of evidence showing she filed her formal application for benefits within one year after receiving the initial request.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of evidence regarding his heart condition and leg swelling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's scarring and alopecia are proximately due to his service-connected recurrent genitourinary infections with stricture, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and range of motion limitation, is currently rated at 10 percent under the appropriate diagnostic codes. The Veteran's painful or unstable scar on his left knee also warrants a separate 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of the issues on appeal, including a new examination for his anxiety disorder and residual scars. The effective date issue will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected abdominal scar disability is rated at 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right wrist disability, have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board found that the Veteran's scar, status post right inguinal hernia repair, is tender to palpation but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran was granted a 10% initial disability rating.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent since April 7, 2005. The left foot scar does not warrant a higher rating. The inactive tuberculosis (TB) has been granted but no specific rating or effective date was provided.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for all issues listed on the title page of this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to his failure to appear for a scheduled personal hearing. The case is now pending and will be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current eye disabilities are not related to his active service and therefore denied service connection for bilateral eye disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of TDIU is granted, as the evidence shows he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities since March 27, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher evaluations or additional benefits.