Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to the ratings for allergic conjunctivitis, supraventricular arrhythmia with sick sinus syndrome, residual painful scarring from a pacemaker implantation, and eczema. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of GERD. The Veteran's lay statements were found to lack probative value.,Service connection was also denied for the in-service bilateral tubal ligation and post-service total hysterectomy with history of endometriosis, as there was no evidence that the disability began during service or was related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected scar disabilities and adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's residual scar status post splenectomy has been granted an initial 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The other service-connected conditions have not yet received a final rating determination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected bilateral foot scars, as there is an indication that their severity has increased since the last examination in December 2011.

The Board has denied service connection for right inguinal hernia status post repair with scar and remanded the issue of service connection for a skin disorder to include as due to undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of December 6, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as of this date.

The Veteran's acne vulgaris with moderate scarring and slight disfigurement of the face is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted, including obtaining records from his private doctor and conducting a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his heart condition, bilateral knee condition, low back condition, right rotator cuff tear with repair and scars, and generalized anxiety disorder with memory loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined rating of 70% did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a lower back disability is being remanded due to the need for a more thorough examination considering his reported fall and subsequent surgery during service.

The Veteran's OSA disability is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The appeal for higher ratings on other conditions remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CFS, enthesophyte posterior olecranon with radial head fracture of the right elbow, DJD with chondromalacia of the left knee, status post meniscal tear with degenerative changes and scarring of the right knee, and cervical spine spondylosis were denied. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tension headaches and PTSD were granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his anxiety disorder and physical disabilities such as knee pain and shoulder impingement syndrome, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for lung disability, prostate disability, and sleep apnea were dismissed. Service connection was granted for scar of the right leg, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's claim of a compensable initial rating for his pilonidal cyst and associated scar is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's facial scar above the left eye is rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for left forearm scars has been denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for residual neck lipoma excision scar has also been denied.