Scars decisions — 2017

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU prior to January 16, 2009. The effective date of the TDIU award is set at January 16, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying National Guard service dates. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his keloids and scar from the removal of cysts has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding sleep apnea.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent effective November 1, 2016. The Board finds that a higher rating of 60 percent is warranted from this date.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, lumbar surgery, stomach condition, GERD, migraines, memory loss, and erectile dysfunction. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records, National Guard records, VA treatment records, and a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected bilateral hip conditions, which resulted in a combined rating of 100% effective from January 29, 2014. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis from January 27, 2012 to January 28, 2014.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for residuals of basal cell carcinoma, including one painful scar, is granted.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right groin scar, effective from August 17, 2012. The Veteran's claim for increased disability evaluation of his status-post right third digit laceration remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for the issues listed in the July 2016 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability has been rated at 40 percent since April 11, 2011. The Board finds that the current evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as for additional compensation for lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's scars from skin cancer and lumbar stenosis have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent, effective May 14, 1999 (date of claim to re-open service connection).

The Veteran's back disability and right hip strain were granted increased ratings, while her left breast scar was not. The TDIU claim is referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding treatment records. The current diagnostic code for her thyroid disability may need to be reconsidered based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and therefore the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of scarlet fever and a heart disorder, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to in-service scarlet fever or any chronic conditions. The Board also found that presumptive service connection based on continuity of symptomatology is not warranted.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of April 30, 2015 for all four service connection claims.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since March 22, 2012. The Board has also granted TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions, or that any such disabilities are causally related to military service.