Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right eye scar is not rated as disfiguring or otherwise disabling, and thus the claim for an initial compensable rating for a right eye scar has been denied.

The Board denied service connection for right hip disability, right hip scar, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 1, 1997 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since November 1, 1997.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all claims prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and the issues will be reconsidered in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's PTSD, tinnitus, and other service-connected conditions are currently rated based on their severity.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on his service-connected left lower extremity neuropathy and colon cancer status post resection with scar, effective November 1, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm ulnar neuropathy, carpal tunnel, and scarring. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to his military service.

The Veteran's skin disability, which includes acne, folliculitis barbae, acne keloids nuchae, and scarring of the face, cheeks, neck, and scalp, is rated at 50 percent under DC 7813-7800. This rating applies to the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.,Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have not rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's adhesions of the uterus associated with residual scarring from a C-section are rated at 30 percent effective June 18, 2010.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right hip scar, finding that there is an approximate balance of evidence regarding pain from the scar.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The effective date of his PTSD service connection is denied as it was not received until July 15, 2010. Other claims have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to topical medications and Attends protective underwear were denied. However, the Veteran was granted a clothing allowance for using a back and abdominal brace due to her umbilical hernia disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to effective dates and initial evaluations for various conditions, including scar, migraines, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD. The case must be returned to determine the proper substitute claimant.

The Veteran's service connection claims for scars from a laceration of the right forearm and peripheral neuropathy from a traumatic laceration of the right ulnar nerve are denied as they were incurred due to his own willful misconduct during active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for retinal scar, right eye and otitis externa due to new evidence submitted. However, it denied both claims as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since April 1, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions make it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating determinations due to outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with these records.