Scars decisions — 2018

The Veteran's degenerative changes, residuals of SFW sacroiliac joint with scar, were found to be productive of symptoms warranting a 20 percent evaluation prior to August 8, 2017. As of August 8, 2017, the disability picture did not meet criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder scars have not exceeded 5 square centimeters, have not been found to be deep, painful and unstable, and have not caused functional limitation. Therefore, the claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing a VA examination to assess the Veteran's functional impairment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's incisional hernia, surgically resolved with scar, was incurred during a period of active duty service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a TDIU from February 2011, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment at that time.

The Veteran's appeals for renal insufficiency, aortic aneurism, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for diabetes mellitus type II associated with herbicide exposure, as well as peripheral artery disease and scars secondary to DMII.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims, finding new and material evidence for some but not all of the issues. Service connection is presumed for certain Gulf War-related conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is related to service, granting service connection and a 10% rating. For his laceration scar of the right index finger, the Board found sufficient evidence of pain and instability, granting an increased rating to 10%. The effective date for these determinations has not been specified.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification from Dr. Timmons regarding his January 2012 examination findings, and for additional development concerning the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's scar of the right forearm, wrist, and hand is rated at 20 percent since March 16, 2017.,The Veteran's scars on his left forearm, wrist, and hand are currently rated as 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death and were not significant enough to require aid and attendance. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death was denied, as well as the claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the May 2011 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not resulted in permanent and total disability that would qualify him for specially adapted housing or home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's burn scar of the right forearm is painful but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it is superficial and does not measure an area of 144 square inches or greater.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues of service connection for PTSD, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, a scar residual of an erroneous vaccination, and residuals of a concussion are on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hemorrhoids, a left brow scar, and lumbar strain with spondylosis and associated bilateral radiculopathy have been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to separate ratings of at least 10 percent each for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's left knee cartilage condition is rated at 20 percent, and a painful scar on the left knee is rated at 10 percent. The case is also remanded to determine if the Veteran is eligible for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore the criteria for a TDIU have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's death is related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange and any service-connected disabilities.