Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and other conditions contributed to his death from acute fentanyl intoxication.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the cause of death (sepsis due to bowel perforation) was not a result of VA medical treatment. The Board found that there was no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA in providing care.

The Veteran's right palm scar is granted a noncompensable rating, but the Board finds that it warrants a 10 percent rating due to pain and tenderness. The current effective date for this decision is not specified.

The Veteran's scarring of the left eye is not related to his military service, and he does not have a compensable evaluation for bilateral cataracts. The Board has remanded these issues.,The Veteran's left knee strain issue remains unresolved.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records and ensure that the TDIU claim is included in the AMA rating claims process.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a failure to schedule the Veteran for contemporaneous VA examinations, which is considered a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The Veteran needs to be provided with a new examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lipoma of the right occipital region was granted service connection and a 10 percent rating. The scar from the excision of the lipoma was also granted service connection, but with a separate noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected residual scarring from basal cell carcinoma removal, right upper eyelid and right temple.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal for each issue.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for discoid lupus erythematosus and scarring alopecia are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected painful scars and deep, nonlinear scars are granted effective January 21, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the October 2018 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his painful scar and service connection for numbness in his toes are both remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for a left eye disorder and an increased evaluation for right eye central corneal nebular scarring. The Veteran does not have a current disability of the left eye, and his right eye disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain has been granted a higher rating of 50 percent effective July 18, 2010.,TDIU was granted effective July 18, 2010.

The Veteran's Dercum’s disease with multiple scars and PTSD are rated at 60 percent effective December 2, 2013. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, abdominal aortic aneurysm, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disorders, vocal cord dysfunction, bilateral knee and shoulder disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and scars. The development includes obtaining service personnel records for the Veteran's periods of active duty and National Guard service, as well as verifying any qualifying periods of service.,The Board also notes that the Veteran has contended that his conditions are related to hazardous exposures during his period of active duty, including exposure to jet fuel and chemicals. The AOJ should attempt to verify these claims and obtain VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient post-service medical records, and requests that the Veteran provide any private treatment records for review. The disability ratings will be reassessed based on all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining missing medical records and ensuring VA fulfilled its duty to assist. The issues of increased disability ratings for chronic left Achilles tendonitis and residuals of pneumonia with left lower lung scar and COPD, as well as TDIU, are now pending.