Scars decisions — 2017

The Board found that there is no current evidence of a sleep disorder or neck disorder. The Veteran's cold injury residuals have been rated at 10 percent prior to November 21, 2012 and at 20 percent thereafter. A compensable disability rating for forehead disfigurement by scars was not warranted, and the Veteran did not meet criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar.

The Veteran's right elbow epicondylitis was found to have begun during service and is therefore granted service connection. The other issues are not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, stating that he is satisfied with the recent rating/award letter.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and scar have been rated based on their current manifestations, with the left shoulder disability receiving a 20% rating since November 1, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 9, 2011, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for MRSA is denied, and his TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 1, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected hernia scars are worsening, causing pain and neuropathy. The Board finds another VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and severity of his scars, including any associated neuropathy.

The Veteran's chronic bilateral orchialgia has been rated at 10 percent since August 27, 1991. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.,A noncompensable scar on the right scrotum was granted effective from August 19, 2014. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, but the effective dates are not specified. The Veteran remains entitled to a separate rating for his painful and unstable amputation scar of the right hand index finger prior to October 23, 2008, and to an initial compensable rating thereafter.

The Veteran's scar on his right wrist is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Prior to September 3, 2010, the Veteran's paresthesias of the median nerve, right wrist were not manifested by mild, incomplete paralysis. Therefore, an initial compensable evaluation prior to September 3, 2010, for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus the criteria for a TDIU for purposes of establishing SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) are not met.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development including a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected hidradenitis suppurativa with scars, and for consideration of other potentially applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic gynecological disability and therefore, service connection for residuals of a miscarriage, status-post dilation and curettage with history of abnormal pap smears, status-post loop electrosurgical excision procedure, vaginal warts, endometritis, and episiotomy is denied. The remaining issues on appeal are also addressed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for cystic acne and facial scarring was denied. The case is remanded to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and unassociated VA treatment records. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hammertoe disability is at issue, along with claims for a skin disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for a surgical scar, status post varicocelectomy was denied as the scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.