Scars decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left shoulder and neck scars is dismissed. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his left hand disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed. His increased rating claim for right knee replacement with residual scar was withdrawn, and his service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea has been reopened due to new evidence but denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of the service-connected left hand scar, specifically a lack of photographs. The Veteran needs to be provided with a VA examination for accurate assessment and rating purposes.

The Veteran's appeal of the right knee scar issue was dismissed.,A separate initial 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee prior to August 10, 2010 was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied. The Board found that his depression did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not cause deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for superficial scar disability, painful scar disability, left inguinal hernia disability, and psychiatric disorder due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits claims are remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration, as his service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements prior to September 8, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the effective dates are not established as requested.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinion is incomplete and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected trachoma eye condition, inactive, as well as residual scarring from trachoma, left eye.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including frostbite and cold injury residuals, prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the relationship between the Veteran's claimed disabilities and her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims for COPD, miscarriage, pre-cancerous breast masses, and cervical cancer are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection are denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his left inguinal hernia and associated scar are being remanded due to the potential worsening of symptoms, requiring further examination and updated treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right inguinal hernia with scar, lipoma scars, and TDIU. The Veteran needs additional examinations to assess the severity of his conditions and determine if an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 28, 2016, for the award of service connection for residual painful scar status-post pilonidal cyst excision is denied as there were no pending and unadjudicated claims for this condition before that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for vulvovaginitis trichomoniasis is denied because the condition was treated and did not recur or cause residuals during her period of service.,The Veteran's recurrent cough is not considered a separate condition from her already service-connected conditions (sinusitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and GERD).,Service connection for bilateral arm pain is denied as it is related to carpal tunnel syndrome which the Veteran is already service-connected for.,Service connection for status post tubal ligation surgery scar is denied because the condition was not aggravated by service.