Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability, an increased rating for tinnitus, and a compensable rating for a lumbar spine scar. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle condition, left foot surgery with scar, low back condition, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral hip condition. The claim for mandibular hypoplasia is also remanded as it requires further examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 10% prior to March 12, 2014. Since then, a 20% rating has been granted for marked limitation of motion in the right ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination for PTSD. The claims are being remanded to allow for this development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in hepatitis C and residual painful scars disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's terminal hospital reports and missing February 2017 rating action. The appellant’s claims for service connection are also remanded due to an incomplete list of dates the Veteran served on active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve. The eye scar disability has also been granted a separate 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for scars. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for service connected scar of the right hip and a higher evaluation for service-connected right femur fracture residuals are remanded due to failure to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, and an increased rating for a scar on the upper third of his left thigh have all been granted. The grant is based on direct service connection due to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as his nonservice-connected dementia was the primary cause of his need for assistance.

The Veteran's bilateral Morton’s neuroma, post-excision, with residuals is rated at 10 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's right cheek scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability and granted service connection for left varicocele residuals (scar). The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all appeals.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is reopened due to new evidence showing a link between his service-connected sinusitis and his headaches. The claims for higher ratings for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis, hemorrhoids, appendectomy residuals, scar of the right middle finger, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU are all remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea syndrome, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between current sleep apnea and service. The rating for the back disability was restored to 40% after being reduced due to CUE, but the Veteran's request for an increased rating beyond 40% was denied.,The scars were rated at 10%, with no increase sought or granted.