Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the claim for an evaluation in excess of this rating has been denied. The Veteran was granted TDIU and SMC based on housebound status from March 17, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of February 25, 2011. TDIU is granted.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, and small intestinal resection conditions. Service connection was granted for a right upper back scar.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased disability ratings as the appellant withdrew his requests prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected chondrosarcoma, right tibia, status post excision via curettage and bone grafting has not been shown to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.,The Veteran's residual scar of the right anterior tibia does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet and toe disability due to a lack of current disabilities. The claims for PTSD, right shin disability, left shin disability, low back disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are remanded as there is evidence suggesting in-service injury or symptoms.,The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid, to include hypothyroidism and scars status-post thyroidectomy due to a lack of current disabilities. The claim for this condition is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of scars, service connection for neck disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to incomplete information in the record.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions and disabilities have been denied. The Board has not assigned a maximum disability rating, which remains before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tension headaches was granted with a December 31, 2014 effective date.,Service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and painful scars on the left shoulder were both granted with March 6, 2013 effective dates.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of status post ulcerative colitis, total colectomy and anus removal, and surgical scar are denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or intent to seek benefits.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for lupus has been dismissed.,Her appeal for lung cancer service connection has also been dismissed.,The petition to reopen her previously denied claim for scar on abdomen as residual of cesarean section is denied.,Service connection for flat feet is denied.,The Veteran's chronic yeast infections are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of residuals of a ruptured right quadricep tendon was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating, and service connection for a lumbar spine disorder secondary to the quadricep tendon injury was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the evidence does not fully address his ability to perform the physical acts required for substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the Board finds that his unemployability is primarily due to a non-service-connected stroke, not his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and keloid scar.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to April 22, 2013 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and referral to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she is not so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and OSA are denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claims for hypertension, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that additional evidence, including VA treatment records and a recent examination, should be considered as part of the claims process. The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for this review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since March 7, 2013. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective from that date.