Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected right calf scars are not painful or unstable, and do not cause functional impairment. The Board denies a compensable rating for the scarring.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spondylosis, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and laparoscopic scar associated with hiatal hernia with GERD render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for left wrist fracture and service connection for a left wrist scar are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as the evidence did not support a link to active service or Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's other claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for uterus disorder, infertility, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran died due to congestive heart failure and was service-connected for muscle hernia and a superficial/tender scar. The appellant's claim for burial benefits is denied as the criteria are not met.

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

The Veteran's dental injury with implant, tooth #8 is rated as noncompensable. The scars on the right eye and nose are rated at 10 percent based on disfigurement, but a separate compensable rating for painful scars is granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including scars now claimed as traumatic arthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for his scars was granted, with the effective date being unknown. The Veteran is now rated at 20% for painful scars on the chest.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a painful chest scar. The Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was found to be aggravated by service. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. An initial 10% rating is assigned for the Veteran's painful chest scar.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for shrapnel wounds of the upper back and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were reopened, with the former being granted and the latter denied.,Service connection was established for residuals of shrapnel wounds in the upper back. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is not considered to be service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's acne vulgaris scarring of the head, face, or neck is rated at 50 percent under Code 7800 due to visible or palpable tissue loss and asymmetry. The other issues related to acne scars are not compensably disabling.

The Veteran's right eye disability, characterized by uncorrected distance vision of 3/600 and corrected distance vision 10/63 (converted to 20/200 for rating purposes), was rated as 20 percent disabling from January 12, 2006 to March 5, 2015. After that date, the disability was rated at 30 percent due to constant diplopia obstructing the central 20 degrees of his vision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him helpless or so nearly helpless that he requires the regular aid and attendance of another person.