Scars decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for his scar of the right leg was denied as there is no evidence showing that the scar meets or exceeds the criteria for a 10% evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7802, and it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disability is not related to his military service, and he was granted service connection for two left foot scars. However, there is no evidence of a left foot / ankle condition other than scarring.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service or post-service continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to June 27, 2012 is also denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left foot scars have been rated at 20 percent since September 26, 2008. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 30 percent is warranted due to the presence of one scar that is both painful and unstable.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition and has determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran is also entitled to service connection for his right hip condition as secondary to his right knee condition, but not for his right knee scar.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right foot disorder, left foot disorder, left hand disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, neck disorder, eye disorder, lung disorder, and knee disorders. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current eye conditions, including bilateral cataracts, right cornea scar, pinguecula, and dermatochalasis, are not related to service and did not have onset therein. The Veteran's decreased visual acuity is due to refractive error of the eyes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective November 5, 2008. The initial disability rating for diabetic nephropathy was increased to 60 percent in February 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. Service connection for scars on the middle and fourth fingers of the right hand is granted, but without evidence of neurological impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's miscarriage is not related to service, including any exposure to anthrax vaccine. Service connection for a gynecological disorder manifested by miscarriage was denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the August 2017 TDIU Vocational Assessment Report and the need for a new VA examination to address his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.

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

The Veteran's pilonidal cystectomy scar is rated at a 10 percent disability level, effective July 19, 1995.