Scars decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 60 percent, effective September 2, 2014. The scars are rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted effective May 30, 2013. The Board also determined that the Veteran is entitled to an effective date of May 30, 2013 for his low back disability, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, painful healed scar of the right forearm, and nonpainful healed scar of the right forearm.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities clearly interfere with his normal employability, and he is therefore entitled to a 10 percent disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.

The Board denied service connection for prolonged compression, right peroneal nerve and left hand scar. The Veteran's claim of asthma was also addressed but is being remanded.

The Veteran's prostatectomy scars are not painful or unstable and do not cause any other disabling effects. The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals from June 1, 2016 result in the use of absorbent materials that must be changed more than four times per day, warranting a 60% rating. However, the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was caused by a spontaneous rupture of an aortic aneurysm, which the Board finds is related to his service-connected disabilities. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including scheduling the Veteran for an examination to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for various disabilities, including those related to the lumbar spine, knees, erectile dysfunction, feet, and a creative organ. The appeals are dismissed as a result.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his neck disability and headache/migraine disability. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for these actions.

The Veteran's fungal otitis externa, with residuals including right tympanic membrane scarring is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted. The claims for insomnia, high fever, gonorrhea, residuals of gunshot wound to the left knee, right elbow disorder, and residuals of injury to the left side of the neck are denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his occupational functioning.