Scars Board decisions

The VA determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as there is no evidence of inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent effective November 23, 2011. He also received a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a vocational specialist's opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 23, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of cholecystectomy with scar does not warrant a compensable rating as there are no current symptoms or functional impairment associated with this disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to February 8, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for left knee scar. The evidence did not support finding a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a groin disorder and granted service connection for facial scars and a deviated nasal septum. The decision on left ear hearing loss is pending in the remand section.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hand symptoms, including scars and pain with cold weather, are related to a reported injury in 1954 while serving in the National Guard. As such, service connection for these residuals is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially residuals of lumbar strain, left and right knee chondromalacia, left and right ankle strains, and left and right foot plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and a VA examination to assess his disability.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and updating the claims file with any relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of his current address.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her hysterectomy residuals was denied, and she is not entitled to TDIU due to the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her right foot fifth toe hammertoe and left great toe bunion were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected skin cancer disability. The claims for increased rating and service connection are also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for his left cornea scar and service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence to support the requested ratings or connections.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations, including new evaluations of his service-connected headaches, bilateral epicondylitis of the elbows, and residuals of hepatorrhaphy.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated as 50 percent disabling since August 31, 2010. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating and the TDIU claim is denied.