Citation Nr: 18140609
Decision Date: 10/03/18	Archive Date: 10/03/18

DOCKET NO. 16-17 827
DATE:	October 3, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for facial scars is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from November 1998 to November 2003. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2014 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Buffalo, New York. 
1. Entitlement to service connection for facial scars is remanded.
The Veteran contends that he has scars on his face from a motorcycle accident during service. The Board notes that he is service-connected for scars of the right shoulder and forearm, right ankle and leg and left hand stemming from the same accident.
Here, medical records from the motorcycle accident indicate that the Veteran sustained multiple abrasions to his face. While he was afforded VA examinations in March 2016 and May 2016 for scars, both examinations indicate that the Veteran does not have facial scars, but also state that the examination orders were to evaluate scars of the right leg/ankle and left hand, and the right forearm and shoulder only. Such gives the impression that the clinicians may not have included the Veteran’s face in their examinations. Accordingly, the Board finds that a new examination is warranted.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Afford the Veteran a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of any facial scarring. The electronic claims file should be made available to the examiner for review. If scarring is present, the examiner should offer an opinion as to the following:
Is it at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or higher degree of probability) that any facial scars are related to service, to include his in-service motorcycle accident? 
A complete rationale for all opinions should be provided.
2. Readjudicate the appeal.
 
L. M. BARNARD
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A.Z., Counsel