Scars decisions — 2016

The Board has ordered a remand for additional development regarding the Veteran's peptic ulcer and abdominal scars, including an examination to assess the nature and severity of related abdominal muscle impairment.

The Veteran's increased ratings for her service-connected left hallux valgus with bunionectomy and left forearm scar secondary to a tick bite were denied. The maximum allowable rating of 10 percent has been assigned for both conditions throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected residual scar due to a pilonidal cystectomy is rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7804 for painful scars. The disability does not meet or approximate criteria for higher ratings as it does not involve multiple unstable or painful scars, nor does it result in disabling effects not considered otherwise under scar diagnostic code criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, residuals of right shoulder/arm injury, and an initial compensable rating for post-concussive syndrome. The claim for increased rating for a right eye disability remains on appeal.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected surgical scar of the anterior lower abdomen, effective March 24, 2011. The Veteran previously had a non-compensable rating from November 1, 2009 to March 23, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right upper extremity disability, necessitate regular aid and attendance of another person. As a result, the claim for SMC on the basis of need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and incomplete treatment information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider the increased rating claim for hypertension with headaches as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2015.

The RO reduced the disability rating for prostate cancer from 100 percent to 40 percent, effective December 1, 2012. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include a residual shrapnel wound to the scalp with scar and substernal chest and right upper thigh scars.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and residual neck scar have been granted. The hypertension claim is pending as the evidence is in equipoise.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of increased ratings and service connection are not addressed as this matter has been returned to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his right clavicle disability was granted, but the issue regarding service connection for thyroid cancer was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial ratings for bipolar disorder with PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and residual scar of the left jaw.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the July 1992 rating decision that assigned a noncompensable rating for right eye corneal scarring, as the evidence then of record supported the RO's interpretation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, chronic headaches, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left hip disorder, and left hip scar have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the cervical spine disability.