Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, spinal scoliosis, and other physical impairments, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence supports the award of TDIU.

The Veteran's asthma claim is reopened, and his pes planus and left arm scar claims are denied. The hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's left inguinal hernia with ventral hernia is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran's anterior trunk scars are rated as 10 percent disabling since December 22, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer scars are denied as not warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for various conditions due to a lack of VA treatment records from 2012 onwards. The Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable and have been destroyed.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for a right knee injury and an initial rating for a right wrist injury. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's skin disorder has not required systemic therapy and does not affect more than 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, thus preventing a higher rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, with no further increase in rating possible.,The Veteran's right hand strain has not met the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues, including his service-connected residuals of post-operative left inguinal hernia. The AOJ is instructed to obtain relevant medical records from Great Lakes Naval Hospital, schedule a new examination by an appropriate clinician to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, and address whether referral for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

Service connection for a back disability is granted.,Service connection for athlete’s foot is granted.,Service connection for a left eye scar is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.,Service connection for short-term memory loss is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for impingement of the left shoulder, status post arthroscopic labral repair and denied a compensable rating for a left shoulder surgical scar.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, a heart condition, hypertension, colon cancer, and scar tissue surgery residuals. The VA is instructed to obtain information from SSA regarding any disability benefits the Veteran may have received.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as bilateral knee scars, are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's income exceeded the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) as of January 1, 2014 and his non-service-connected pension benefits were terminated.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The rating for prolapsed stoma with stomal hernia remains at 20 percent, while the GERD with duodenal ulcer is rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran’s claim for a separate evaluation of colon cancer has been remanded. Service connection for renal failure was also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected scars associated with coronary bypass surgery has been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in the current 30 percent rating, as there are no scars that are both painful and unstable, nor do they meet the criteria for deep or nonlinear scars covering at least 144 square inches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her right knee conditions and mental health issues, rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 23, 2016. Effective from that date, she is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right shoulder/arm conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus has been reopened.,Effective dates prior to May 15, 2012 have not been granted for the awards of service connection for residuals of a contusion of the left arm with nerve damage and scar residual of the left arm.