Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left foot scar and hammer toes of the left foot are granted with a compensable rating, but no higher. The Veteran does not have three or more painful or unstable scars for the left foot scar to warrant a higher evaluation.

The claim for service connection of various conditions, including a right knee disability and bilateral knee disabilities, is remanded. The Veteran's PTSD rating and TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence. The issues include service connection for various disabilities, with a focus on secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU due to a lack of adequate VA examinations, incomplete records, and need for further development.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of January 7, 2018 for a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's scar of the right iliac crest, right hip, and right leg. This decision is based on evidence from a VA examination conducted on January 7, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disability and diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's service on board USS Long Beach is under review.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent since March 29, 2018. The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if he needs higher level of care due to his disability and for clarification on SMC eligibility.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to January 30, 2018.

Service connection is granted for right ankle/heel inversion, left ear perforation (previously claimed as right ear perforation), chronic bronchitis, and left wrist and thumb scars. A TDIU is also granted.,Bladder disability and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp are remanded due to insufficient rationale provided in the February 2018 DBQ.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple physical impairments.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, so his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. However, it is denied as there is no current diagnosis of arthritis and the examiner found that the Veteran's in-service injuries had healed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout of the left foot, an initial compensable rating for hypertension, and a compensable initial rating for residual scar, lumbar microdiskectomy. The appeal was remanded for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a lower lip scar. The remaining claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, bladder disorder (including cystitis), and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, total right knee replacement, left knee chondromalacia patella, left knee degenerative joint disease, and a residual scar on the right knee, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx was denied. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment prior to September 26, 2016 and from November 1, 2017 to December 19, 2017. However, the issue of TDIU was moot as he received a 100% rating for his service-connected disabilities and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(i).

The Veteran's left foot strain results in impairment that becomes severe with any significant activity, and she has a painful scar from her surgery. The Board granted ratings of 30 percent for the left foot strain and 10 percent for the painful scar.,The effective date for service connection of the left foot strain is set at July 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected deep and superficial scars of the right breast were evaluated as noncompensable. The Board found that a higher evaluation was not warranted due to the scar dimensions being less than the required criteria for a compensable rating.

The decision restores service connection for bilateral hearing loss and grants increased ratings for left elbow scar, left knee instability, and remands the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left knee and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings and a TDIU were dismissed due to his death.