Scars decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The case is remanded to determine if he qualifies for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate reasons or bases in the January 2021 decision. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to assess his current severity of service-connected right elbow scar, skin disability, and duodenal ulcer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, tinnitus, head injury/TBI, and residual head injury scar have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for all four conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 9, 2014. From April 9, 2014, the Veteran is in receipt of a combined disability rating of 100 percent, which moots any TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected mental disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The Veteran's foot disorders, hypertension, sleep apnea, and left shoulder scar are all under review.

The Veteran's chicken pox scars are rated at a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of claim. The scars meet the criteria for one characteristic of disfigurement (surface contour elevation or depression on palpation).

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including for a TDIU rating. The appeal remains in the legacy system due to an increase in the rating for herniated lumbar disc L3.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hysterectomy, miscarriage, and migraines to include as a result of herbicide exposure due to insufficient evidence regarding her alleged exposures.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral eye disability, including corneal scarring and dry eye syndrome, is being remanded due to the need for an adequate medical examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to these claims prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and his service-connected left knee disability. The VA examiner needs to provide separate opinions on causation and aggravation, considering recent treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher disability ratings for her service-connected left wrist fracture and initial compensable rating for her service-connected left wrist scar due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further action regarding his claim of entitlement to a TDIU. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he meets the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU, including on the basis of disabilities affecting a single body system (orthopedic), during the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from January 1, 2021 onward due to his service-connected disabilities. However, the TDIU claim for the period March 19, 2012 to November 24, 2019 is denied as he had substantially gainful employment during this time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a determination on whether his bilateral hand and elbow disorders are related to service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for all issues, including service connection for sleep apnea and increased ratings for various conditions. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address service connection claims for right eyebrow scar, TBI/TBI residuals, vertigo, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board will not assign a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the appendectomy scar.

The Veteran's initial 10% disability rating for service-connected scars on anterior trunk and left pinky finger was granted. The abdominal wound with osteomyelitis of the pubic symphysis remains denied, as does service connection for several other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his employment as a chaplain/civil servant with the U.S. Army, and he has not provided sufficient information regarding his current employment status.