Scars Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's service-connected reactive arthritis of the right elbow and surgical scar of the right elbow, as new examinations are needed due to incomplete evaluations in November 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to complications from a right hip fracture resulting from a fall. The claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits is dismissed as moot because DIC benefits are considered a greater benefit.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran had a current disability and exposure to noise in service. The other claims were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or causal link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,For lumbar spine DDD, a higher rating than 20% is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis or forward flexion at 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being necessary prior to appellate review, including a VA examination and referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequate range of motion assessment during flare-ups, as well as discrepancies in the number of surgical scars on the left knee. The Veteran's complaints regarding functional loss due to flare-ups need to be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a deviated nasal septum is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for scars from right inguinal hernia repair, cholecystectomy, right knee surgery, and staph infection is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied. A rating of 60 percent, but no higher, is granted as of July 8, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, effective date not specified.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities has been established, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for neck disability, left kidney removal, and right knee disability were denied as no new and material evidence was received.,The request to reopen a claim for service connection for left knee disability was granted due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such disability and that the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Veteran's right ankle surgical scars are not rated higher than a non-compensable rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the assignment of a compensable rating for the Veteran’s right ankle surgical scars under Diagnostic Code 7805 as there are no other disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04. The Veteran's right ankle post-operative internal fixation fracture right medial malleolus and distal one-third of right fibula with retained fixation metal and traumatic arthritis is remanded for further examination to determine the severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a letter from his daughter and an in-service event claim. The medical opinions are unclear on whether the eye condition is congenital defect or disease, and further examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left forearm scar as they are not adequately addressed in the current record. The Veteran needs to provide updated VA treatment records, especially from his private physician, and a new examination is required to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected right foot condition with chronic neuritis and scars was denied. The Veteran is currently receiving the highest possible rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for corneal scars and granted a 10 percent rating for residuals of a left wrist fracture with wrist strain.,The Board denied an initial compensable rating for superficial and nonlinear scars on the left leg from March 1, 2014 to May 29, 2018, a compensable rating for deep, nonlinear scar of the left lower extremity from May 29, 2018, and a compensable rating for superficial linear scars of the left lower extremity from May 29, 2018.,The Board denied an initial rating greater than 10 percent for painful scarring of the left lower extremity.