Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right shoulder disorder and chest scar have been granted. The claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus has been dismissed. The Board has remanded the cases to obtain STRs, provide a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the disorders, and schedule an examination for hearing loss.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period from January 19, 2005 to August 10, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty with a surgical scar was reduced from 60 percent to 30 percent, but the reduction is void ab initio due to procedural errors. The Board has restored the original 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's left index finger laceration scar residuals and chemical burn scars. The low back disability issue is also linked with other service-connected disabilities, requiring further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, except for the reopening of a low back disability claim and granting of service connection for a right testicular condition. Other conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the claim of an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to May 1, 2018 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The Veteran’s scar from inguinal hernia surgery is rated at 10%. Other claims are being remanded.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia, cervical arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches (secondary to PTSD) are all pending and need further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a gynecological condition, other than fourth degree tear with rectovaginal fistula and female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD), hysterectomy scar, neck condition, and headaches.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for painful scars was denied, but a separate rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for left inguinodynia was granted.,The decision also noted that the Veteran had three abdominal scars resulting from surgeries in 2010 and 2011. The pain associated with these scars is not considered in the rating provided under DCs 7800-04.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, scars as residuals of hernia surgery, a dental condition, a lower back condition, and a left foot condition. Service connection was granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.,Specifically, the Board finds that substantial compliance with its previous directives has not been met in several areas.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective September 27, 2010. The ratings for renal dysfunction, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and muscle group IV disability are denied. Service connection for hepatitis C and scar residuals from appendectomy, thoracotomy, laparotomy and cut-down scars in the right groin is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for deep and tender scars of the left femur were denied. The claim to reopen service connection for tinnitus was granted, with service connection established based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has found that another remand is necessary to obtain outstanding private treatment records and the Veteran employment information relevant to the time period prior to September 27, 2011. The TDIU claim was raised as part of a pending increased rating claim and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's CAD, including scars from his coronary bypass/graft surgery, was rated at 100% effective September 14, 2016. This rating is based on a workload of less than 4 METs and evidence of cardiac dysfunction.

The Veteran's right forearm scar has not been manifested by symptoms of the type and extent, frequency, and/or severity to warrant an initial compensable rating at any time since the effective date of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was remanded for issues related to service connection for various conditions, including skin cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, scarring of the lungs, and COPD. The appellant withdrew his claim for skin cancer due to Agent Orange exposure.,An effective date of February 12, 2015, was granted for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss disability, erectile dysfunction, a sleep disorder (RLS), and a headache disorder (migraines) are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation higher than 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for a scar of the left knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation higher than 10 percent prior to May 29, 2018 and higher than 40 percent from that date for low back strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a separate evaluation for bilateral sciatic radicular pain is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and left eye disability due to issues with the examination process, including a flawed psychiatric evaluation and inability to obtain necessary medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, folliculitis scars on the face, irritable bowel syndrome, sinusitis, and bronchitis have been denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for paresthesia in the right foot and toes is remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder chronic pain is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU.