Scars decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation and he had been substantially and gainfully employed for at least twelve months, with only temporary interruptions. Therefore, his TDIU benefits were properly discontinued as of October 1, 2014.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for a scar on the right axilla and tension headaches have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA hospital on August 26, 2016 was denied because prior authorization was not obtained and the services were rendered in an emergency situation where VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions have not warranted an increased rating in any of the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for keloid scars as residuals of cystic acne has been denied. The medical evidence does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected residual scar status post lipoma removal has been rated at 10 percent since July 21, 2004. The Board finds that the current rating of 10 percent is appropriate as there is no evidence of instability or pain in excess of what is currently assigned.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds it unnecessary to refer this claim to the Director for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery bypass graft scar is painful on palpation and warrants a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's combined rating is 50 percent, and the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities alone are enough to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis is granted.

The Veteran's acne scars of the face and upper back have been rated at 30 percent since July 22, 2014. The appeal is granted for these ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete service department records and in-service stressor verification. The Veteran's PTSD claim is reopened, but new evidence must be provided before a decision can be made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and thus grants his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating for a scar have been withdrawn.

The Board denied an increased initial rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's appeal of this decision is pending before the Court, and a remand to the AOJ to schedule him for a videoconference hearing has been ordered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, scars, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unemployable due to his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and he has met the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of August 1, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to provide a detailed explanation of why TDIU was denied and whether referral to the Director of Compensation Service is warranted.