Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for a scar on the right hand due to lack of documentation in service records.

The Veteran's tension headaches are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and no higher. The Board found that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his condition.,Prior to January 29, 2013, the Veteran’s right eyebrow scar was rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 7800. From January 29, 2013 forward, it has been rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Veteran's back brace and bilateral knee braces are not awarded a clothing allowance because they are not prescribed for service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and CUE in several rating decisions, finding that no legal merit existed to grant these requests.

The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for low back pain was denied.,The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for scars on left shoulder was denied. The request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for scars on left upper chest was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, were denied as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service.,Specifically, the Board found that none of the claimed conditions are linked to the Veteran’s active duty or to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied service connection for the gallbladder surgery and a compensable rating for the umbilical hernia scar, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service hernia repair.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for a scar associated with right knee degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating under the applicable VA disability evaluation criteria. The service connection claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded two issues related to increased ratings for service-connected right wrist and scar disabilities due to the addition of VA examination reports after the issuance of the Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU, leaving only the spine disability appeal dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a back injury, right knee injury, forehead scar, jungle rot, and TBI are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incident that could be linked to these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder) is granted. The Board finds the Veteran likely sustained a mild traumatic brain injury during service which contributed to his diagnosed depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for left lower extremity scars and associated ankle scars due to incomplete information in the examination reports. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being evaluated again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for asthma and melanoma with scar, as they are related to presumed in-service exposure to herbicides. The cases have been sent back for VA examinations to determine if there is a relationship between the conditions and military service.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are rated at 10 percent since April 6, 2009. The left ankle scar is currently rated at 10 percent. The left torn Achilles tendon and bilateral pes planus disabilities are both rated at 10 percent. The right knee DJD is rated at 30 percent. The decision does not address the left knee strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee osteoarthritis, PTSD, CAD, right ankle osteoarthritis, and shrapnel wound scars, are rated at a combined 90 percent. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to their severity and nature.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings due to lack of recent VA treatment records and a need for updated private treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's three painful abdominal scars are rated at 10 percent each, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, scars on the left hand, allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, heart condition, and GERD have been denied. The VA has ordered additional examinations to address these issues.,The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and active service.