Scars decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have an audiological disorder, to include bilateral hearing loss, related to his service. The claim for hyperlipidemia was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability. The Veteran's scar of the right leg currently rated at 10% remains unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for the occipital scalp scar and dismissed the motion for an earlier effective date for PTSD based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's initial ratings for intramuscular hemangioma and painful post-intramuscular hemangioma neck scars have been denied. The claim for chronic sinusitis remains pending as it has not been resolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right eye impairment, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and lumbar spine spondylosis, status post surgeries due to procedural issues with the March 2009 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied as the evidence did not show that her service-connected conditions rendered her unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations, initial compensable evaluation, and effective date prior to April 30, 2015 are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for a 10 percent rating for left femur fracture and left hip limitation of rotation have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a PTSD examination.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for right knee strain from 40 percent to 10 percent, effective July 11, 2017, was improper and has ordered restoration of the prior rating. The Veteran's cervical spine, depressive disorder, lumbar spondylosis, right knee strain, left knee degenerative joint disease, and scar, residual injury right ring finger disabilities are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for loss of eyelashes and granted an initial 10 percent rating for corneal scar, left eye. The appellant's claim for loss of eyelashes was not supported by the evidence as he does not have a current disability manifested by loss of eyelashes.

The Veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the left calf are rated at 20 percent effective March 10, 2010. The Board also remanded several issues related to shell fragment wounds for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, low back disability, left knee chondromalacia with subluxation, right small finger degenerative arthritis, upper and mid dorsal spine limitation of extension, and residual surgical scar of the right knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and a right elbow scar are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in ratings beyond noncompensable levels.

The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for a residual scar of the right forearm under Diagnostic Code 7805 is dismissed due to the Veteran's testimony indicating she does not need an increased evaluation for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection was denied as the earliest possible effective date is February 16, 2010.,A rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to April 20, 2015, has been granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including TBI, lower back strain, ventral hernia, and scars. The main reasons for remand include needing VA examiners' opinions on whether a TBI occurred in service and its residuals, as well as examining the severity of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus is denied.,All other issues are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to prostate cancer, right index finger deformity with ankylosis prior to February 23, 2015, painful scar residual of a chin laceration, disfiguring scar residuals of a chin laceration, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's combined rating for these service-connected disabilities is 80 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, facial disfigurement with scars, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression are remanded.