Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate opinions regarding his low back disorder and scar, as well as the need for additional VA examinations. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for residuals of fracture of the right humerus is not supported by new and material evidence. The claims for residual scar, status post left tibial bone graft (left leg scar) and bilateral hearing loss are also denied as they do not involve a service connection issue.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's high cholesterol is not a compensable disability for which service connection can be granted, as it is merely a laboratory finding. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for left Achilles tendon rupture repair with scar and hypertension are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death, and that the medication he was taking for these conditions did not play a significant role in causing his kidney failure.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding increased ratings for PTSD. The right leg scar claim is granted, with service connection established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and neuropathy, have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, and other conditions, render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU from January 12, 2005.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for scars of the penis and scrotum. The new evidence received is sufficient to reopen this claim, but further development is needed to determine if there was a groin injury during service and whether it caused any current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including increased evaluations for his service-connected lung disability and skin conditions, as well as claims for a hernia and nasal condition. The Board has remanded the case due to additional development needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer, including its residual facial scars, is causally related to his military service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the AOJ for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local VA office. The Veteran has requested a Board videoconference hearing, but his request was received prior to any Board consideration of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left hamstring disabilities, as well as his residual scar status post hernia surgery, are not service-connected.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility were awarded effective February 17, 2007. The Board found that an earlier effective date was not warranted due to the Veteran's continued employment until February 16, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed shoulder, low back, ankle, and hip disabilities. The decision also addressed hypertension and respiratory/pulmonary conditions but did not grant any of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for scars of each lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination to consider flare-ups and instability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an abdominal hernia. The Veteran's abdominal hernia is found to be at least as likely as not related to his period of active duty, including due to the documented in-service abdominal complaints and May 1991 clinical observation of a bulging area around the Veteran's umbilicus.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability resulted in painful motion and degenerative arthritis, warranting a 10% rating prior to November 7, 2014. For the entire appeal period, his right hip disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's right great toe disability was rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to October 6, 2010, and granted a separate noncompensable rating for a scar associated with his thoracotomy.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for acne vulgaris with residual scarring was denied. The claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicides or as secondary to service-connected acne vulgaris with residual scarring, was also denied.