Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her right knee condition and associated left knee replacement, have prevented her from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational experience prior to September 1, 2010.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher (compensable) initial disability rating for scars on the left lower extremity from January 14, 2013.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for higher initial disability ratings for PTSD and post-operative scar. As a result, the Board dismisses these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the nature, cause, and effect of any mental health disorder the Veteran may have had at the time of his death.

The Board has ordered the case remanded due to missing procedural and evidentiary documents, including a February 2014 rating decision and additional evidence received subsequent to it. The AOJ will be asked to associate these records with the electronic claims file and readjudicate the issue on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's pulmonary disorder was not incurred or aggravated during active service and denied his claim. The bilateral eye disorders were also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected Traumatic Brain Injury with PTSD results in the need for aid and attendance of another person, necessitating a higher rate of SMC. The effective date is set at March 22, 2013.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and scar on the lower back.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification regarding the nature of his second scar, other than the 11 inch midline abdominal scar. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate review.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current disability manifested by miscarriages or pelvic pain, and her bilateral foot disability is not otherwise causally related to her active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for gastritis and scars were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of credible support evidence of the claimed in-service stressor for PTSD, and there was no evidence of severe hemorrhages or multiple small eroded or ulcerated areas for gastritis. For scars, the Veteran's scars were rated as stable with no unstable or painful ones.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an updated examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these are obtained.

The Veteran's left wrist status post carpal tunnel release with median nerve neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the painful surgical scar of the left wrist is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left wrist disability has been denied as there is no evidence showing that a higher evaluation is warranted based on the current level of disability. There was no clear and unmistakable error in the September 1992 rating decision, and the effective date for the separate 10 percent rating for left wrist tenosynovitis prior to September 13, 2012 has not been established.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately, with a 30 percent rating for anatomical loss or injury of the mouth, lips, or tongue effective September 13, 2017.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with scar was rated at 20 percent effective April 13, 2017. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating of 40 percent for back disability, including radiculopathy, was granted with a current effective date of March 11, 2010. Effective dates were also established for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and tinnitus on the same day.