Scars decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms cause moderate occupational and social impairment, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with hemochromatosis, which may be related to his service-connected liver injury. Additional medical records are needed to determine if this condition is service connected.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial, compensable rating for service-connected painful scars of the right knee was dismissed as he withdrew his claim.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for left knee disability was denied because no new and material evidence was submitted after the July 2008 Board decision.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for radiculopathy with nerve involvement affecting bilateral lower extremities was denied as his claim was implicitly denied in the July 2008 Board decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbar strain and bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a new psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has granted a clothing allowance for the left wrist splint used to treat service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome. The right wrist splint, bilateral knee braces, and menthol/methyl salicylate topical medication are denied as they do not meet the criteria for an annual clothing allowance.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for higher initial ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

The Veteran's scars of the right lower extremity are granted a rating of 20 percent from April 9, 2018. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for a right ankle condition and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, as well as to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding entitlement to an initial compensable rating for scar, left shoulder status post surgery. The remaining issues of service connection for right shoulder disability, thoracic spine disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) effective August 15, 2012.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary due to the failure to use steroid injections during the thyroidectomy, which may have prevented keloid formation. The Veteran's claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for left breast cancer and related conditions has been granted, but the appeal regarding separate evaluations is dismissed as there are no longer any issues of error in fact or law.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date due to issues related to service connection for residuals of latent tuberculosis, scars from a pericardial window surgery, and pericarditis. The claims are intertwined with a claim regarding clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the October 2006 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a respiratory disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left knee disability, scar on the back of the head, and scars on the right leg. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to service or any other valid theory of entitlement.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his scars, low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and thus denied his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain and scars associated with basal cell carcinoma due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected coronary artery disease, which prevents him from working as a logger.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and eye problems, make it impossible for him to work as a commercial electrician. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).