Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, with resolution of reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for entitlement to a TDIU are met.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the September 1986 rating decision which failed to award a separate compensable rating for scars as a residual of laparotomy. The appeal is granted, and a separate compensable evaluation for residual scar from exploratory laparotomy is granted effective from August 31, 1986.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected fracture of the sternum was granted, with a 10 percent rating effective from January 23, 2004. The appeals for an extraschedular rating for his right shoulder disability and scars were denied.

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

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 5, 2010 for the assignment of a 60 percent evaluation for contact dermatitis with keloidal scarring.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was received on October 27, 2014. The effective date of the increase is set at that time.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was received on January 16, 2013. The effective date of the increase is set at that time.

The Veteran's skin conditions, including basal cell carcinoma excision; actinic keratosis, multiple scars; and dermatitis not otherwise specified, lesion on right anterior chest, are service-connected. His loss of nails in both feet is also service-connected. The Veteran's PTSD is also service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's scar on his right leg is painful and grants a 10% evaluation for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service. The Veteran's conditions were found not to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right forehead scar and left ear hearing loss were denied. The low back disability claim was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in the rating for his residual scars was denied. The effective date of service connection for a low back disability is March 19, 2004. The correct bilateral factor was applied effective April 16, 2003. A 40 percent rating has been granted for the Veteran's lumbar strain since March 19, 2004.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not aggravated during service and is not shown to have been aggravated by any service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for bilateral pes planus cannot be established.

The Veteran's left forearm scars have been evaluated as superficial and not painful or unstable, with a total area less than 144 square inches. The Board finds that these conditions do not meet the criteria for any compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's scars of the left thigh are painful, but do not affect the head, face, or neck, are not deep, and do not result in any additional disabling effects. The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for such scars under DC 7804.

The Veteran's gastritis and gastroparesis with fatty liver disease were rated at 60 percent effective July 25, 2015.,The Veteran's C-section scar was rated at 10 percent effective July 25, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist scar and bilateral shin scars are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further medical clarification due to a lack of recent VA examination and treatment records. The Veteran seeks an increased disability rating for his service-connected right sixth rib deformity with tender scar and post-thoracotomy syndrome.