Scars decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his left wrist scar and has remanded the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left wrist flexor tendon injury.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for a perineum scar is denied as the scar does not meet the criteria for any applicable diagnostic codes.

The appeal for service connection of the fracture of the neck, degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine, and compensable disability rating for residual scar from an appendectomy has been dismissed. The appeal for a separate award of service connection for residuals of an appendectomy is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and VA treatment records. The issues of service connection for status post breast ductal carcinoma with scars, aphasia, memory loss, and left arm disability are all inextricably intertwined with the breast ductal carcinoma issue.

The Veteran's right arm scar and neurological disability are granted service connection as they were incurred in the line of duty during active service. The eye disability is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a left little finger surgical scar due to the need for a current VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 0 percent for his left anteroposterior chest scar, status post pneumothorax repair traumatic pneumothorax, is denied as the evidence does not show any disabling effects due to the scar.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and depressive disorder. The effective date of the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains May 16, 2012.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to April 1, 2016 is being remanded due to additional development needed. The combined disability rating was 50 percent disabling during this period.

The Board has found that the claims for increased ratings must be remanded due to new evidence added to the record since the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case in September 2018. The Veteran's former employer provided additional employment information, and SSA records were also added to the file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation, resulting in a grant of TDIU effective August 30, 2016. The issues of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip and residuals of a right hip and femur injury are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing or following gainful employment, as they are rated at 60 percent combined and do not meet the criteria for a TDIU on schedular basis.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and evaluations for various conditions. The Veteran's TBI claim is denied due to lack of evidence of current disability related to the in-service injury. Service connection for left arm surgery scars remains denied as there are no residuals attributable to the in-service injury. Other claims have been remanded without assigning a specific disposition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to incomplete evidence and need for further examination. The RO will obtain additional treatment records, schedule examinations, and readjudicate the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of various issues, including evaluations for pilonidal cyst and scar, as well as TDIU. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the RO for additional review.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left foot Morton’s neuroma of the left foot was denied. The effective date for service connection for a scar on the left foot is set at February 5, 2010. His current disability rating for Morton’s neuroma of the left foot remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied prior to July 9, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his education and vocational training, along with his past work experience, allow him to maintain substantially gainful employment.