Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran is required to provide additional information regarding her service and post-service treatment, as well as undergo VA examinations for her claimed disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, including a scar; bilateral hearing loss; and a right hand disorder. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's palatal scarring is a separate disability from his VPI following the UPPP and if so, whether it was caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his PTSD and panic disorder with agoraphobia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected hip and low back disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including generalized anxiety disorder, hidradenitis, right ankle injury with degenerative changes, and anal fistula) are deemed to be the primary basis for his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His combined rating is 80 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent for arthritis and 20 percent for the residuals of meniscectomy, resulting in a combined rating of 30 percent. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, are being reviewed to determine if they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation for hidradenitis suppurativa with scarring is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a photograph of his face and resolving inconsistencies in medical records.

The Veteran's surgical scar is found to be proximately due to his service-connected rheumatic heart disease. The Veteran's rheumatic heart disease was rated at a noncompensable level from November 2002 to July 2010, and later granted a compensable rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of service connection for PTSD and right leg shorter than the left; higher ratings for left hip replacement, left hip scar, and adjustment disorder with anxiety; and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) documents, USPS records, and a supplemental statement of the case on his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete records and for further development. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for scars of the right forearm and right elbow, as well as service connection for a right forearm peripheral nerve injury and degenerative joint disease of the right great toe, have been withdrawn. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for internal hemorrhoids with external scarring is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disabilities have been rated as 50 percent since January 25, 2013.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder other than bronchitis is still pending. The rating for bronchitis has been granted with a noncompensable (0 percent) rating, and the Veteran requested an increased rating. The left wrist disability remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional development, including the assembly of medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.