Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The Board found service connection for a bilateral eye disorder to be reopened based on new evidence but denied other claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus denied his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's right elbow laceration residual scar is not deep, unstable, or painful and measures only 2 cm x 0.2 cm. The Board finds that he is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for his right elbow scar.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, and he is now entitled to a disability rating of 20 percent for his right ankle scars.

The Veteran's claim for a non-initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected macular scar, right eye, atrophic, residuals of injury is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinea pedis and onychomycosis was denied. The Board found that the condition did not affect more than 20% of his exposed areas or require systemic therapy, thus warranting a 10% rating.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, vision disability, neuropathy, and heart disability were all denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Board also found that the Veteran's skin condition did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, bilateral ear disability (Eustachian tube dysfunction), depressive disorder, bilateral ingrown toenail, Morton's metatarsalgia, interdigital neuroma within second and third toes of the left foot, migraine headaches, jaw residuals involving the 5th cranial nerve on both sides, GERD, chronic lumbar sprain, residuals of a left ring finger fracture, and left thigh scar.,The Veteran's current symptoms are consistent with his in-service complaints and diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service medical records and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including lumbar strain, right tibia stress fracture, status-post right thumb fracture, and right ring finger scar.

The Veteran's PTSD, right upper extremity painful scar, right upper extremity burn scar, back burn scar, and left upper extremity burn scar have been evaluated based on their respective diagnostic codes. The appeals for increased ratings are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable criteria.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected scar post follicle drainage status post folliculitis infection from February 10, 2017. The rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae remained at 30 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed eye disabilities, including chorioretinal scars and welder's keratitis, are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist scar and found it was incurred in military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for B-cell leukemia is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be adjudicated again based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's scar from his right Achilles tendon rupture is not compensable as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's heart condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating beyond what has been assigned.,The Veteran's diabetes requires insulin, restricted diet but not regulation of activities and does not warrant an increased rating.,The Veteran's scar is linear and neither painful nor unstable and does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including traumatic brain injury residuals, headaches, right and left knee disabilities, and a micro corneal scar of the left eye. The Veteran is presumed credible regarding his boxing experiences during active duty.

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