Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to changes in her service-connected disabilities and the need for a new examination to assess her employability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for discoid lupus erythematous with scarring alopecia was denied, as the condition did not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted due to her service-connected disabilities preventing her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for scars, residuals of squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis due to insufficient examination reports. The VA needs to conduct further examinations to determine the extent of these disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of duodenal ulcer, GERD, and pneumonic lung scarring as the appellant withdrew his claims through his authorized representative.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral eye disorder and jaw disability, but denied service connection for left upper arm disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and denied an initial compensable rating for his left knee scar.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 13, 2012 for the grant of a TDIU rating and DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was denied as there is no evidence showing he was precluded from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to that date.,The Veteran's combined disability ratings did not meet the threshold criteria for consideration of a schedular TDIU rating prior to September 13, 2012. However, VA policy allows for an extraschedular TDIU rating if the evidence shows he was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered reconsideration of the claims for service connection for left breast cancer, two left breast scars, and a right breast scar. The case is being remanded to obtain qualifications of the VA physicians who provided medical opinions in this case.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantial gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's VA Form 9 was untimely and denied his claims for service connection due to lack of timely appeal.

The Veteran's claims for facial injury residuals and head, neck, and face scars have been denied as there are no current disabilities. The service-connected back disability has also been denied with a rating of 20 percent being the highest possible under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right hip scars and right thigh disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran requested a withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected painful vertical scar is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 7804.,The Veteran's non-linear deep vertical scar and nonlinear superficial left lower quadrant scar are both rated as noncompensable.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability and hemorrhoids, but has determined that further development is needed to address the remaining issues of service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, left leg disability (including radiculopathy and leg shortening), forehead scar, and psychiatric disability. The decision on these issues will be remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including evaluations and service connection for various disabilities. The Veteran is also required to provide VA treatment records from September 2018 onwards and undergo examinations for his current disability levels and etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lumbar radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar strain, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has referred the case for extra-schedular consideration as it may be sufficient to warrant an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 6, 2015 until June 14, 2016. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for residuals of an in-service tongue injury, including speech impediment, scars on the tongue, drooling, difficulty swallowing, and painful speaking, chewing or drinking.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board also remanded the claims for neck condition, migraines, left shoulder disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of medical nexus opinions.