Scars decisions — 2017

The Veteran's status post gunshot wound with retained fragments and multiple scars is rated at a 40 percent rating, effective October 19, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected shell fragment wounds do not warrant increased ratings as they are currently rated based on their severity and functional impact.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's donor site scar is rated at 10% and his right wrist ankylosis with degenerative joint disease was granted a 70% rating prior to May 17, 2016. From that date, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains denied.,A mixed decision has been reached as some issues were granted (donor site scar and right wrist ankylosis) while others remain denied.

The Board denied service connection for residuals from a head injury and a scar on the head as there was no in-service incurrence or aggravation of an injury.

The Veteran's sinus condition has been rated at 10 percent prior to July 13, 2011 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an appendectomy scar and denied service connection for a left foot/ankle condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims due to a lack of recent VA medical records. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than November 10, 2010 for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for status post fracture of middle finger of left hand and osteoarthritis with scar is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's service-connected painful scars, midline chest and right upper thigh, associated with coronary artery bypass grafting, are rated at 10 percent prior to January 24, 2014, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA eye examination to assess the severity of his chorioretinal scars (claimed as bilateral eye condition).

The Board found that the recoupment of separation pay from VA compensation benefits was proper and required by law, but acknowledged the financial hardship it caused to the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected and rated at 70 percent. The Board found that his alcohol abuse disorder was not related to his military service or his service-connected PTSD, and denied the claim for an increased rating for left thigh and left foot pruritic fungus. The right buttock shell fragment wound with retained foreign body and scar of right frontal scalp shell fragment wound were also rated as appropriate.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left shoulder labrum tear and scars on the left shoulder was denied as there is no evidence of functional impairment or other disabling effects not provided for by the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 80 percent, which meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities and grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from his incarceration and Social Security Administration disability records. He also needs a VA examination for his service-connected right wrist condition and right index finger scar.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran is seeking a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) for the period prior to October 17, 2016. The Board has determined that this issue must be referred to the VA Under Secretary for Benefits or the VA Director of Compensation and Pension Service for adjudication under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).,The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU for the period from October 17, 2016. The combined schedular disability rating for all service-connected disabilities during this period does not meet the minimum combined rating criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) for eligibility for TDIU.