Scars decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for VA examinations regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and scars.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disability and denied initial compensable ratings for scars of the head, neck, face, left abdomen scar (status post punch biopsy for melanoma), and left shoulder scar (status post melanoma removal and surgery).,The appellant did not have a current liver disability at any point during the appeal period. The Board found that his scars met criteria for a 30 percent rating but no higher.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to incomplete records, specifically missing service personnel records and hospital records from 1972. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 10 percent evaluation of gunshot wound scars, but the Board finds that no earlier date can be awarded due to the finality of the November 1985 rating decision and the lack of a valid claim prior to May 2012.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as the decisions in question are final and no CUE was found.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria was denied, and the Board found that he is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating due to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including alopecia areata, bilateral hearing loss, a scar on the left third finger, eczema of the feet, and herpes simplex II virus. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left third and fourth fingers, right ankle, low back disability, left shin scar, PTSD, bilateral knee disabilities, stress fracture of the left tibia, right shoulder disability (prior to April 21, 2014), right clavicle disability, and right wrist disability have been denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection of right fifth finger disability are also denied.,The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for low back disability, left shin scar, and PTSD as there is no case or controversy with respect to these issues.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the service connection for a residual scar from the removal of a back mole.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, rated at 60 percent disabling, rendered him totally disabled and unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since March 12, 1993.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and a painful scar are withdrawn. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral patellofemoral syndrome related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder and left knee disorder, but has remanded all issues related to service connection due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, finding no evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.,Service connection is also denied for an acquired psychiatric disability (also claimed as anxiety and depression), a muscle disability to include as due to an unspecified undiagnosed illness, and a left leg condition. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left arm scar prior to January 20, 2014 have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD prior to January 20, 2014 is remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's disability rating for residual scars, status post bilateral matrixectomies, great toenails and scar, status post excision of ganglion, dorsum left foot was granted from March 9, 2010 until May 27, 2014. From May 27, 2014 to March 16, 2015, the rating was increased to 20 percent. The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating is denied from March 16, 2015 onwards.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 17, 2008 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that there is no basis for assigning an earlier effective date as the denial in the December 2006 final rating decision precludes such a determination.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. An initial 10 percent disability rating, but no higher, for a left knee scar is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection of ear problems and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.