Scars decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to address whether his diagnosed right forearm disabilities are related to his in-service injury and/or service-connected scar.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's tinnitus remains rated at 10 percent, a compensable rating for his left leg scar is needed, and the VA will conduct new examinations to determine the etiology of any hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, back disabilities, knee disabilities, and cephalgia.

The Veteran's left eye disability, including corneal scar, status post corneal abrasion, vitreous floater, and pinguecula, was evaluated as non-compensable due to the absence of incapacitating episodes or significant visual acuity impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for obtaining outstanding private treatment records from Stern Urology, and for further adjudication.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine condition. The case is remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, shrapnel injuries, PTSD, and cataracts are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's meningioma brain tumor and service-connected cerebellar hemangioblastoma.

The Veteran's Epstein Barr Virus is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of decision. The c-section scar is rated at 20 percent, effective from March 15, 2017. The lumbar strain remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence received since his last Statement of the Case. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any recent medical care providers and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the Board found that none of his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death. The cause of death was determined to be end-stage liver disease due to Hepatitis C.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a disability incurred or aggravated in service, and the Board denied service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected painful scars of the right hand and fingers, as well as his social anxiety disorder with other unspecified depressive disorder, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and/or examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tender surgical scar, residuals of c-section and linear surgical scar, residuals of c-section have been denied. The Veteran’s tender surgical scar is rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7804, while her linear surgical scar is rated noncompensably disabling under Diagnostic Code 7805.,The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for the linear surgical scar were also denied. The Veteran's lower abdomen scar was found to be intermittently painful warranting a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7804, but not meeting the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The claim for service connection for a neurological disorder of the bilateral lower extremities is also being remanded.

The Veteran's painful squamous cell carcinoma scar on the left jaw line is granted a rating of 10 percent. The ratings for his scars on the right forearm and hand, as well as his basal cell carcinoma scars on the left forearm, are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several service connection claims.

The Veteran's painful scar on his right foot is granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board cannot consider it in its first instance and must be referred to VA’s Director, Compensation Service, for initial consideration. The evidence shows that the Veteran has been unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to his service-connected disabilities since October 2009.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disabilities and related surgical scars due to his testimony indicating increased severity since previous examinations. The AOJ will consider whether separate ratings are warranted for scars of each foot on remand.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations on tinnitus, scar, dermatophytosis of the feet and crural region, PTSD, and Type-II diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to need for additional development. The claim for TDIU is also being deferred.