Scars decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD, a lumbar spine disability, and a residual scar with characteristic disfigurement.

The Veteran's service-connected surgical scars and hypertension do not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's case requires further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of his right shoulder disability and skin disabilities. The Veteran is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by pain and functional loss but without ankylosis or other severe impairment, is not rated higher than the current 10 percent. The TDIU claim was also denied as the Veteran does not have a disability level that precludes substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including folliculitis and chloracne with facial scarring, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals regarding the ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, chronic low back pain, and right bunionectomy with residual scar. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various respiratory and foot conditions, including residuals of pulmonary tuberculosis, scarring of lungs, aspergillosis, and pes planus. The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected scar due to status post benign cavernous sinus tumor is granted, with a separate 10 percent disability rating for the painful scar.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, a compensable rating for scars, and service connection for a low back disability. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for residual superficial paresis of the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve, entitlement to a compensable rating for a residual scar on the right cheek, and entitlement to service connection for a low back disability are being remanded.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for residual scars, status post basal cell carcinoma of the central back and squamous cell carcinoma of the left shoulder has been granted. The Veteran is currently rated at a 10 percent disability rating since May 13, 2014.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is at least 70% since August 10, 2012. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the injuries sustained in a May 1982 motor vehicle accident were not incurred in the line of duty due to the Veteran's own willful misconduct and intoxication. As such, service connection for any disabilities stemming from this incident is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's cause of death is found to be related to his service-connected asbestos-related disorder with pleural thickening and scarring, which contributed substantially to his death. The Board grants the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left knee condition with residual scars are related to his military service. The claim for a bilateral foot condition is being remanded as it requires additional development.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's current left eye disorder, diagnosed as lattice degeneration with scarring and localized retinal detachment, is not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for an eye disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess his hearing loss and scar conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded as the current severity of his service-connected right indirect inguinal hernia repair surgery residuals, including any neurological symptoms or scars, need to be evaluated.