Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and a need for an updated medical examination.

The Board has withdrawn several issues from the Veteran's appeal, including those related to loss of smell, taste, chloracne, psychiatric disability (PTSD), respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and burn scars of the hands. The remaining issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for TBI residuals, shell fragment wound scar, lung disability, and sleep apnea are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records. The claim for service connection is also remanded as the relationship between his disabilities and service needs further clarification.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Issues include prostate cancer, lung cancer, non-linear and linear surgical scars related to lung cancer, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, as he was able to secure and maintain employment in the past.

The Veteran's acne disorder and right wrist scar are being remanded for further evaluation as the current severity of her conditions may not accurately reflect in the records.

The Veteran's service-connected left inguinal hernia repair and associated scar have worsened since his last VA examination, necessitating a new evaluation to determine appropriate ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of sinusitis, right shoulder condition, alopecia, and sleep disorder to include sleep apnea have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant during his April 2019 hearing. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of a Statement of the Case for the remaining issues. The Veteran is entitled to service connection for clostridium difficile, latent tuberculosis, tinea pedis, and otitis media, but his requests for higher ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and melanoma with scar, both of which are presumed to be related to in-service herbicide exposure. The VA examiners' opinions were deemed inadequate due to lack of a clear nexus between service and these conditions.

The Veteran was gainfully employed during the period prior to January 4, 2012. Therefore, a TDIU for this period is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder scarring and has remanded the issue of service connection for cubital tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity as secondary to postoperative residuals of a total right shoulder arthroplasty.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for renal cell carcinoma and painful scars status post partial nephrectomy associated with renal cell carcinoma are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and therefore he cannot be granted service connection for the cause of his death. Additionally, he did not meet the criteria to receive burial benefits as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for arthritis of the right thumb was reopened and granted service connection. An initial rating of 20% is assigned for scars of the left ankle, left knee, and right wrist.,Service connection for depressive disorder is granted with an effective date of September 17, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted with an effective date of July 25, 2014. The decision also states that no earlier effective date is warranted.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for scarring on his chest is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral knee scars has been dismissed.,Service connection for brain aneurysm secondary to right knee disability, upper extremity gout secondary to service-connected kidney disease, and lower extremity gout secondary to service-connected kidney disease have all been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records. The VA will obtain private treatment records from Dr. M. Riad and other relevant providers, as well as VA treatment records since September 2019. A VA examination will be scheduled to assess the current severity of his service-connected residuals of a thoracotomy.