Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions were granted effective June 1, 2014. However, he did not receive payment for the month of June due to VA regulations requiring that payments begin on the first day of the month following the effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right ankle scar.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted a 10% evaluation from November 26, 2012.,Service connection for scars on the left and right medial thighs is granted.,Service connection for hepatitis C is reopened and granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depressive disorder) is reopened and granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the issues are referred back to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ). The Veteran had multiple claims pending on appeal including service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lung disease, including obstructive lung disease and pulmonary scarring as a result of exposure to asbestos. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that his current respiratory disability was related to service or in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected Lisfranc’s joint disruption, left foot with surgical scar is being remanded due to the need for updated medical evidence and an examination.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's testicular cancer status post orchiectomy with scar, finding no basis for higher ratings under applicable VA disability evaluation criteria. The appeal was also referred to the AOJ for service connection of psychiatric disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected testicular cancer.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 50 percent for service-connected scars of the face was granted, effective September 28, 2016. The Board found no increase in disability within one year prior to this date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for herniated nucleus pulposus L5-S1 with degenerative arthritis of the spine, chronic right ankle sprain, and status post left arthroscopic meniscectomy with post-operative scarring due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided new VA examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined to a total of 60 percent, but did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU. The Board referred the case to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services (Director) for extraschedular consideration due to unemployability caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral arm scars due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

Service connection is granted for shin splints, scar on the right forehead, and residuals of a right foot fracture.,The Veteran's service treatment records indicate he fractured his right foot in 2009. He has been diagnosed with a current scar on his right forehead that was incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected postoperative lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome is the primary cause of his surgical scar of the anterior trunk (abdomen). Service connection for this condition is granted effective from October 10, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral vision loss, left ankle pain, and headaches due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings and increased ratings for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including a heart murmur and need for a pacemaker, is not service connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's heart disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, but he does not have at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more. The Board has referred his TDIU claim to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected knee disabilities, tinnitus, and depression.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating of 20 percent is warranted due to marked limitation of motion. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to determine if his condition during flares is akin to ankylosis.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar keratomas with scarring was denied a compensable rating prior to August 13, 2018 and since that date. The new criteria for skin disabilities were applied prospectively from the effective date of the change forward.