Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's service-connected nasal fracture and his current conditions, thus denying both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back disorder, left knee joint disorder, left leg/ankle disorder, and left knee scar as they were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of increased ratings for service-connected conditions and the issue of service connection for a dental condition are no longer before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for prostate cancer and coronary artery disease was denied. The Board found that the residuals of prostate cancer did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation, as they do not include renal dysfunction or voiding dysfunction.

The Veteran's right thigh scars are not rated compensable, but his service connection for a right knee disability is granted. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current right knee condition was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathies of both lower extremities, result from a common etiology. The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected left lower lung lobectomy and associated scars.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has been successfully working during the appeal period and chooses to work part-time.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a hearing, and he now wishes to withdraw his appeals regarding the initial compensable rating for a chin scar and the reopening of previously denied claims for service connection for chipped teeth and a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to the absence of a current diagnosis. The claim for an increased rating for corneal scar of the left eye, with retained foreign body, was denied as the Veteran failed to report for a necessary VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, including radiculopathy. The Board has remanded for additional development regarding the timing and severity of neurological manifestations.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis status post-separation and surgical repair with scar, effective from June 2014. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of the removal of the right submandibular gland with subjective complaints of dry mouth, impaired taste and impaired smell do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. However, an initial 10 percent rating is assigned for his scar on the right neck due to submandibular gland removal.

The Veteran's skin disability of the feet, claimed as tinea pedis, is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service and granted service connection.