Scars decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee conditions and residual scars. These include increased disability ratings for right knee anterior instability, right knee ruptured ACL with degenerative joint disease, and a compensable rating for residual scars from arthroscopy of the right knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Veteran's facial scars are rated as 10 percent disabling, but an increased rating of 30 percent is granted.,The claims for service connection for a back disability and residuals of a head injury have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and VA examinations to assess the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and right eye corneal ulcer with corneal scarring.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease and scars has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records and SSA records. The AOJ will have an opportunity to review these records in the readjudication of her claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right eyelid scar, and for consideration of whether extraschedular evaluation is warranted.

The Board found that the appellant's postoperative bone spur removal, right ankle does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent and denied his claim for an initial compensable rating for scar, right medial malleolus. The evidence did not support higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right middle finger injury during service is related to his current condition and granted service connection for residuals of a laceration to the right middle finger, including scarring.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's chronic multiple lipomatosis with scars, status post lipoma removal, is rated at 20 percent since December 21, 2017. Prior to that date, the disability was not manifested by an area or areas exceeding 144 square inches (929 sq. cm) of scars.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 20 percent for post-operative vagotomy and pyloroplasty, residuals of duodenitis and peptic ulcer disease, and an initial compensable rating for a residual scar.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical evidence and for the appellant to be afforded an examination. The appeal will be processed as if the hearing request was withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess his PTSD, ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, right thigh scars, right thumb scar, and abdomen scars.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as his nonservice-connected conditions are more significant in determining his ability to care for himself.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum schedular percentage standards for a TDIU rating prior to July 31, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities has been withdrawn. The Board dismissed the appeal as to the issue of an increased rating for the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's heart disability is not service-connected and no secondary service connection has been established.,Prior to February 19, 2016, the Veteran's prostatitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on urinary frequency. After that date, it met the criteria for a 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's Peyronie's disease does not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating as there is no evidence of loss of erectile power or deformity requiring special monthly compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.350.,The Veteran's penile scars do not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating based on their size and stability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with her educational and occupational background, warranting a TDIU.