Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's appendectomy scar is superficial and painful, warranting a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's right eye disability is not service-connected and denied his claim for increased rating of left eye trauma with macular scar.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected anterior communicating aneurysm and COPD. The examiner will need to determine if there are any neurologic symptoms associated with the aneurysm and whether COPD is causally related to service due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied as her conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA regulations.

The Veteran's temporary total disability rating due to private hospitalization and rehabilitation from February 2, 2009, to June 15, 2009 is denied as the treatment did not necessitate surgery or periods of convalescence.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will handle any additional development as required.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination report, and further action is required to comply with the terms of the Joint Motion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for cluster headaches, hemorrhoids, and bilateral hernia with scar status post hernia repair have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a hearing. The Board has granted a TDIU based on service-connected cluster headaches.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disability, claimed as pulmonary fibrosis and lung scarring. The Board has determined that the April 2015 VA opinion is inadequate for adjudication purposes due to its failure to address the Veteran's contention of exposure to cleaning chemicals during his first period of service and service treatment records from March 1991 showing complaints of chest pain and cough, and a diagnosis of bronchitis. The case is REMANDED for an addendum opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities as moot due to the grant of compensable evaluations for the Veteran's knee disabilities and scars.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities have been granted, with effective dates set at February 17, 2009.,Effective from February 17, 2009, the Veteran is now entitled to VA benefits for her claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection and a compensable rating for a residual scar of a gunshot wound of the left elbow is June 10, 1987.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury as a result of an automobile accident during National Guard training was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have evidence to support his contention that he incurred the injury during active duty or ACDUTRA, and thus service connection could not be granted on a direct basis. The issue of increased rating and TDIU for generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD is also addressed in the REMAND section.

The Veteran's right hand scar is rated at a 10% disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The other issues on appeal are not addressed as they were not about service connection.

The Board has restored service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and residual scars due to IHD. The appeal for service connection for an eye disability is REMANDED as the Veteran needs a VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her left thumb disability with residual scars. Any outstanding private and VA treatment records should also be obtained.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is rated as 50 percent disabling, effective from March 14, 2016.,Service connection for raspy voice with swallowing complications secondary to cervical spine disability was granted and a separate rating assigned.