Scars decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for a 10 percent rating for GERD is granted. The appeals for service connection for back, left foot and right foot disabilities are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his requests for these claims. The appeals for an increased rating for left knee degenerative changes with scar, right knee scar, and TDIU prior to September 15, 2016 are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for initial compensable and greater than 10 percent ratings for his service-connected left fifth finger scar and head scars due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is required to reschedule these examinations at a facility where the Veteran does not work.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions, including coronary artery disease, right knee replacement, right knee burn scar with right knee surgical scars, left knee and femur disability, left ankle disability, low back disability, left hip disability, GERD, and IBS.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for kidney disorder, PTSD, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right lower leg scar.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and denied entitlement to accrued benefits based on new and material evidence not being received.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous VA examination. A new examination will be required before further action can be taken.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for a scar due to residuals of mesentery lymphangioma has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for a left foot disorder and increased ratings for his left knee osteochondritis dissecans. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence, including medical opinions regarding the etiology of any diagnosed left foot disorder and the nature and severity of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional consideration of new medical evidence, and the RO is instructed to consider this evidence in its review.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, COPD, acquired pneumonia, and squamous cell carcinoma due to exposure to radiation, mustard gas, and other toxic agents. The VA is required to obtain a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral eye disability, scars on the left foot and right elbow were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of irregular, duplicated, enlarged or diminished images in the eyes, nor any incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral eye disability, scars on the left foot and right elbow were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of irregular, duplicated, enlarged or diminished images in the eyes, nor any incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's gastrointestinal issues are related to service, but needs further medical examination and opinion to determine if these conditions are directly related to his time in service or caused by any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a renal disorder has been reopened. The Board also remanded several issues including initial ratings for various conditions such as tibia stress fracture, hypertension, head scar, burn scar of the left wrist and arm, migraine disorder, PTSD with TBI, right tibia stress fracture, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities and the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder, claimed as Achilles’ tendonitis. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed in order to provide new VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or sustain substantially gainful employment prior to July 3, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for a left knee brace and skin medications as there was no evidence showing that these items caused wear and tear to his clothes or irreparable damage to his outer garments.

The Veteran's scars on the third and fourth fingers of his right hand are rated at a compensable level, but no higher. The issue of entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is moot due to the already granted rating.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, including from the Iowa City VAMC and SSA records. Additionally, new examinations are needed for his left wrist disability and scars.