Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected scars of the left lower extremity and left buttock have only been characterized by symptoms of pain, warranting a 10 percent rating since November 30, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 29, 2015 is being remanded due to the pending May 2015 claim for back scar. The AOJ must adjudicate this claim and then readjudicate the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's scars of the right thigh and calf, which are painful, meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his right knee disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability and a right shoulder condition are also being addressed.

The Veteran's PFB with consequent scarring is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating due to marked limitation of motion.,The Veteran's right fourth finger disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and there is no evidence provided in the record suggesting it warrants a compensable rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a deviated septum. The claims of service connection for cholecystectomy with residual scar and increased rating for hepatitis C are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee instability does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of more than slight instability.,There are no compensable scars on the Veteran's right knee. The scar is deep and linear, but not painful or unstable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, and peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of April 30, 2015. Prior to that date, the evidence did not show he was unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his scars, status post residuals of thermal injury to the bilateral thighs is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for actinic keratosis and scar of the upper back, residual of excised melanoma with history of numbness have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to pursue and maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's right testicle scar is found to be painful and warrants a 10% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, and his neck scar is rated at 0 percent. The decision on the TDIU claim is mixed as he meets the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU but not prior to October 10, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown to be of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience, effective October 16, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his left inguinal hernia and scar associated with a left inguinal hernia disabilities, as well as an addendum medical opinion regarding the bilateral plantar calluses disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated as noncompensable from January 1, 2010 to September 14, 2012 and then increased to 10 percent thereafter. The back disability was initially rated at 10 percent from January 1, 2010 to May 22, 2015 and later increased to 40 percent.,The Veteran's left knee scar has been withdrawn from appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his scar, and a supplemental opinion on his TDIU claim considering his cognitive impairment.