Scars decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of multiple conditions, including athletes foot, costochondritis, gastrointestinal disorders, left leg scars, bilateral knee, thoracolumbar spine, and right wrist disorders.

The Board has granted the request to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for cause of death and determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The decision is based on medical evidence indicating a causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death from bronchial asthma.

The Veteran's bilateral keratoconus with corneal scars does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it does not cause loss of visual acuity to worse than 20/40 corrected distance vision, contraction of his visual fields, diplopia or characteristics of disfigurement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disorder, bilateral eye disorder, hemorrhoids, and lipoma throat surgery residuals with scarring due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran must provide releases for any additional care providers who may possess new or additional evidence pertinent to his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a biopsy (claimed as a low back disorder) is remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the nature, etiology, and relationship of any diagnosed conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was granted. He is now receiving a 10 percent rating for his painful scar of the left anterior trunk and a 10 percent rating for his keloid formation on the same area, both under the direct service connection theory.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination. The claims for increased ratings of chronic headaches, relapse fever/night sweats, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, residual scars (due to removal of swollen lymph nodes), multiple joint pain, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and blurred vision and twitching of the left eye are also being remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including pneumonitis and atelectasis, left diaphragm disorder, left lung disorder with scarring, and a disorder manifested by inability to talk in the mornings. The decision also remanded one issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining a line of duty determination, additional VA treatment records, and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's in-service alcohol use.

The Board has remanded the claims for lipomas, right wrist nerve damage, and lipoma removal scars due to incomplete records and need for a medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected scar of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent, but no higher, as it does not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for left foot neuropathy is denied as it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.,An initial compensable evaluation for non-painful residual scars of the left lower extremity, right lower leg and foot, and chest is denied. The Veteran already has a rating for painful scars on his right lower leg and foot and left foot.,The Veteran's initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for painful residual scars of the left lower extremity and right lower leg and foot is denied. There are no indications that he meets the criteria for an increased rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.,An evaluation in excess of 20 percent for posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the additional disability was proximately caused by an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral glaucoma with retinal vascular occlusion, presbyopia and post-operative cataracts, atrioventricular (A-V) block, hypertension, and post-surgical scar from removal of pilonidal cyst, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The case will also be adjudicated again to determine if a total disability rating based on individual unemployability should be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his scar, right lateral neck, residual of trichoepithelioma, squamous cell carcinoma (skin disability) due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for neurofibroma and its associated scars. The vision disorder (diplopia) was also granted as secondary to the neurofibroma.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for scarred eardrums and diabetes mellitus as no timely substantive appeal was filed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s GERD status post-hernia repair is currently manifested by symptoms such as pain, nausea, and vomiting, which do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7346. His abdominal scar does not result in any disabling effects not considered under Diagnostic Codes 7800-05. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his scalp scar, left leg scar, and GERD have been denied. The current ratings are considered appropriate based on the severity of symptoms and medical evidence.