Scars decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the claims of left knee degenerative changes and right knee scar, as well as the TDIU claim prior to September 15, 2016. The Veteran will need to provide authorization for VA to obtain private medical records from St. Clare's Hospital in Sussex, New Jersey, and any relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for right lumbar myositis (low back condition), a left knee condition, obstructive sleep apnea, scars of the right flank, migraine headaches, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, nasal pterygium right eye with bilateral borderline intraocular pressure, diabetes mellitus, type II, and insomnia disorder.

This decision grants a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's status post ruptured bladder, effective September 12, 2013. The Veteran also receives a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated as 100 percent disabling since January 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for a laceration scar of the anterior neck. The right knee, TBI, and related issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lateral collateral ligament strain and any associated scars. The matter of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also raised by the record and should be developed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, right knee instability, right knee strain, scarring on the neck, scarring on the hand and forearm, and depressive disorder. The claims have been dismissed.

The Veteran's right wrist surgical scar is rated at 10 percent, but the issue of a higher rating for avascular necrosis remains pending as it was not fully evaluated in the current decision.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for a right index finger strain, and ratings in excess of 30 percent for right upper extremity scars and 10 percent for right wrist sprain have been denied. The case is REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings and increased ratings for her service-connected partial mastectomy, painful scar residual to fibrocystic breast disease, and linear scar residual to fibrocystic breast disease are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for a scar of the right toe is being remanded due to incomplete evidence and potential changes in rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's perforated colonic diverticulum, including whether it was caused by carelessness or negligence on VA's part.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for a scar due to a left forearm shrapnel injury was denied as the evidence did not show any limitation of function or disabling effects.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle disability, scar disability, anxiety, and heart condition due to lack of a VA examination. The issues are related to service connection.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for medical opinions regarding whether his current conditions, including residuals of colon resection, hernia, and painful scars, were caused or aggravated by VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of recent VA treatment records. The Veteran's knee conditions need further evaluation.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development: a rating in excess of 10 percent for a deep, non-linear abdominal scar; a rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar; a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss; and a rating in excess of 20 percent for the status post ventral hernia repair.

The Veteran's chest surgical scar was granted a 10% disability rating prior to June 16, 2014. The appeal for an increased rating is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, benign prostatic hypertrophy, myeloma, surgical scars as secondary to lumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran is also requested to provide a history of any other injuries or events in service that may be associated with his disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for several issues, including those related to a right breast cyst, disability of the right thumb and fingers, Raynaud’s syndrome of the hands, spider veins of the thighs, and scar of the right thigh. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).