Scars decisions — 2018

Your initial rating for status-post internal fixation with residual hardware and pain of the left fifth metatarsal has been granted at a 30 percent level. The other issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a psychiatric disorder rated at 70 percent and other conditions rated at 20 percent combined to 90 percent, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for evaluation of residuals of squamous cell carcinoma, including left neck scar, disfigurement scars of the left ear and neck, right shoulder scar, mid-lower back scar, and left forearm scar. The issues are related to service connection and require a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the permanent loss of use of his feet, meeting the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and remands several issues for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's skin disabilities and PTSD. The VA will need to conduct further examinations and review records to determine if there is a connection between the Veteran's current conditions and his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the inability to obtain or sustain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for scar disability, back disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability are also denied.

The Board has denied the claim for an initial compensable rating for a bilateral eye disability on an extraschedular basis and referred it for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration based on the collective impact of multiple service-connected disabilities. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his scar, right forearm, residual of spider bite was granted with an effective date of June 5, 2014. The claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and tinnitus were also granted with effective dates prior to June 5, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand two cases related to the Veteran's left lower extremity disabilities due to insufficient evidence from a previous examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence is needed for a proper determination of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination to determine the extent of the Veteran's service-connected left femur disability, specifically whether his left hip heterotopic ossification and erectile dysfunction are residuals of the service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete information in the examination reports, including lack of range of motion testing and instability assessment. The Veteran is also required to provide VA with his VA rehabilitation records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis due to lack of current diagnosis and no in-service treatment. The case is remanded for further examination regarding the Veteran's claimed hernia injury/scars.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected burn scar residuals is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7802.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted service connection. The issues of service connection for TBI, increased ratings for shell fragment wounds of the left shoulder and upper back with retained foreign body, left shoulder scar, mid-back inferior lateral scar, and posterior lateral left lower back scars are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's enlarged thyroid is not compensable due to lack of findings or symptoms attributable to the condition.

The Veteran's appeal to establish a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the August 2008 rating decision was denied. The NOD, which would have reopened her claim for increased compensation, was not filed within one year of the original decision.