Scars decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear diagnoses and need for additional development, including obtaining a clarified medical opinion on whether the Veteran's left eye conditions are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and rating consideration due to issues related to service-connected scars, including a TDIU claim. The Veteran's pain is associated with his service-connected scars.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU due to a lack of adequate consideration of certain issues, including the presence of hammertoes and painful scars. The Veteran is also entitled to a VA examination to determine the current severity and manifestations of her service-connected right and left foot hallux valgus with scars.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking PTSD with major depression and alcohol abuse to the Veteran's cause of death. The primary cause of death was stage four lung cancer resulting in cardiac tamponade.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to the effective dates assigned. The appeals for earlier effective dates are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a skin condition other than scarring of the lips, as there is insufficient evidence to link it to the Veteran's military service or his service-connected loss of teeth due to trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 16, 2013 for service connection of coronary artery disease/left heart catheterization and associated scars.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left eyebrow scar and initial rating for anxiety disorder are remanded due to the need for missing treatment records and examinations.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for a scar from partial right nephrectomy is granted, but his kidney cancer residuals are remanded due to lack of recent medical evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right hand cellulitis and service connection for venereal disease due to lack of consideration of functional impact from pain, need for updated VA treatment records, and need for addendum medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further evidentiary development due to additional medical records being added to the claim file.

The Board dismissed the appeals for left inguinal pain disorder, right inguinal pain disorder, acid reflux disorder, residual appendectomy scar, and hyperthyroidism. Service connection was granted for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from non-sedentary or sedentary employment, and the Board finds that he is not unemployable solely due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for PTSD, psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and sleep disorder has been granted. A rating of 50 percent for headaches is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left eye disability, which is rated at 30 percent under the old criteria and now rated as 30 percent under the revised criteria, has been denied because the evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on visual impairment or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than April 1, 2015 for service connection have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 30 percent and 10 percent for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Hemorrhoids have also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diverticulitis and residual scarring, status post herniorrhaphy of a ventral hernia as these conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Veteran is granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective March 7, 2015 due to service-connected disabilities that have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further review due to claims of CUE in previous rating decisions and a request for an earlier effective date for PTSD.