Scars decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and a surgical scar of the right shoulder, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence in favor of the Veteran's claims. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a personal hearing. The claims of increased evaluation and service connection remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a pilonidal cyst excision manifested as a scar, but denied service connection for low back disability, tailbone disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome (FDS).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a vocational specialist examination to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's lung conditions, including asthma and sleep apnea, are presumed to have been incurred during service. The heart condition is also presumed to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted.,Further examinations and medical records are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed eczema, right knee disorder, and scar, middle forehead.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected right middle finger disabilities.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a right elbow disorder was granted. His left wrist scar is rated at 10 percent due to its size and function.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine their etiology.

The medications the Veteran took for his service-connected disabilities, including pain medication and PTSD treatment, caused his death from small bowel obstruction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including amputation above the right knee and posttraumatic stress disorder, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for SMC based on this need.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed conditions did not manifest during a period of active military service and are not otherwise related to such service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death from colon cancer, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's shrapnel wound scar does not result in any characteristic of disfigurement or other disabling manifestation, and thus he is not entitled to a compensable initial rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and non-VA treatment records, SSA records, and a VA examination. The claims will be readjudicated based on the evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral calluses and left foot scar are currently rated as 10 percent each, but no higher, for the right and left feet. The Board finds that a rating of 10% is warranted under the former criteria for DC 7804.

The Veteran died from respiratory arrest/pneumonia, with underlying causes including congestive heart failure/coronary artery disease, renal failure, and multiple system atrophy (MSA). The service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. There is no evidence linking the metallic foreign bodies from gunshot wounds to MSA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected skin disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a comprehensive dermatology examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine musculoligamentous strain/sprain and right ring finger scar were evaluated, but neither condition met the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran was not granted any additional compensation.