Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's current disability levels.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to clarify diagnoses and provide opinions regarding etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the appeal period, leading to a TDIU being granted.

The Veteran's mupirocin 2% ointment was used for a service-connected skin condition, causing damage to his outer garments. The back brace case is remanded as the VA medical opinion did not address whether it causes wear and tear on clothing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The decision also remanded several issues, including the claim of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease with cardiac arrhythmia and scars from coronary artery bypass surgery are being remanded due to the need to obtain updated VA medical records, including those in VISTA.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for erectile dysfunction and scars, status post retropubic prostatectomy have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's initial rating for scar, residual of head injury is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's initial rating for painful scar of the left forehead is also denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Board has remanded these issues.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating for pyrosis and regurgitation.,The Veteran's meralgia paresthetica, right thigh with inflamed right sacroiliac joint, is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 8529.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, gout, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular accident residuals, concussion residuals, right shoulder disorder, and scar on the back of head as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service separation.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his chest injury related to shell-fragments is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran also has service-connected scars, and both conditions are being evaluated together.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as there is no evidence of current symptoms resulting from the appendectomy or related to the scar. The compensable rating for residuals of appendectomy, including scar, was not granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to July 1, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for liposarcoma and its complications (right foot drop, angioneurotic edema of the left leg, angioneurotica edema of the right leg, and scar status post-surgery), and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are all remanded due to need for further development.

The Veteran's follicular degeneration syndrome, previously rated as alopecia areata and now recharacterized as alopecia with scarring affecting more than 40 percent of the scalp, is granted a 20% rating.

The Board denied a TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that his symptoms do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to a TDIU due to withdrawal by the Veteran's accredited representative. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a skin disability with scarring to include acne vulgaris, comedones, skin lesions and dermatitis is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as her service-connected disabilities do not render her unemployable, considering her other severe nonservice-connected disabilities.