Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's laceration scar of the scalp is rated as noncompensable, but a compensable rating of 10 percent is granted.,For prostatitis, the Veteran was previously rated at 40 percent prior to September 21, 2011. From that date forward, he is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and heart disability, as there is no evidence of these conditions during the pendency of his claim. The Board has also found that new examinations are necessary to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and headache disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable. The Board finds that the Veteran is capable of substantially gainful employment with reasonable accommodations.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic lung cancer, which is service-connected. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.,The Appellant is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 24, 2015, for the award of special monthly compensation based on her need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's scars of the right lower extremity are rated as 10 percent disabling under DC 7804, due to pain and instability. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right shoulder disability or entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's left arm and back chemical burn scars are rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 7801.,Prior to November 6, 2015, the acquired psychiatric disorder was rated at 50 percent. After that date, it has been rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to preclude gainful employment, and a TDIU is granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left eye posttraumatic aphakia and facial scars as he withdrew his claims during a hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected abdominal scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's chorioretinal scarring of the left eye, identifying all acquired psychiatric disorders using DSM-IV criteria, and determining whether any diagnosed sleep disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of records related to his appendectomy and service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected incisional scar related to his right inguinal hernia repair, finding that it is painful. The postoperative residuals of the hernia are not compensable.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for Peyronie's disease with associated erectile dysfunction was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.,SMC in excess of the rate payable under 38 U.S.C. � 1114(k) is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC under this provision due to his service-connected disabilities.,TDIU for the period prior to November 9, 2011, is denied as the Veteran was able to maintain employment during that time.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating issues have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted, with the effective date being from the date of receipt of his application. The combined disability rating is at least 70% due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to schedule a new VA examination and determine the current severity of his lumbar spine disability. The Veteran seeks an increased evaluation for his lumbar spine disability, which was last evaluated in September 2012.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass with residual scar has been granted. The effective date remains June 20, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete records. The issues of increased disability rating for scars, status post pilonidal cyst removals, and TDIU are being held in abeyance until the above-mentioned claims are resolved.