Citation Nr: 20002227 Decision Date: 01/10/20 Archive Date: 01/09/20 DOCKET NO. 18-45 888A DATE: January 10, 2020 REMANDED An initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is remanded. An initial compensable rating for surgical scar, left foot is remanded. Service connection for kidney removal and transplant is remanded. Service connection for scar on right foot is remanded. Service connection for liver disease to include hepatic encephalopathy is remanded. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded. Total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served honorably on active duty in the United States Army from February 1981 to March 1983. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2016 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PFB In a July 2019 briefing, the Veteran’s representative contends that the Veteran’s PFB warrants a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code (DC) 7800, specifically, that the Veteran has one characteristic of disfigurement in that his skin texture is abnormal in an area exceeding six square inches. 38 C.F.R. § 4.118, DC 7800. The Veteran underwent VA examinations in December 2015 and January 2019. During both examinations the Veteran stated he gets severe bumps and pimples when he shaves and occasionally feels a sense of itching, facial swelling, and neck irritation. The VA examinations are inadequate in measuring the extent of the Veteran’s PFB. Neither examination provides an approximation of what percent of the Veteran’s entire body or exposed areas are affected by his PFB. The examinations did not find the Veteran had abnormal skin texture, but in light of his contentions a new examination is warranted to determine the measurement of the area where the Veteran states he gets severe bumps, itching, facial swelling, and neck irritation. Left Foot Scar, kidney removal, right foot scar, liver disease, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU For the above-listed issues, the Veteran submitted a timely notice of disagreement with a December 2015 rating decision, but a statement of the case has not yet been issued. A remand is required for the AOJ to issue a statement of the case. 38 C.F.R. § 20.200; Manlincon v. West, 12 Vet. App. 238, 240-41 (1999). The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from January 2019 to the Present. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria. In particular, the examiner should provide the approximate total body area and approximate total exposed body area affected by the Veteran’s PFB. The examiner should also report if the Veteran’s PFB causes any disfigurements of the Veteran’s head, face, or neck including abnormal skin texture. 3. Send the Veteran and his representative a statement of the case that addresses the following issues: increased rating for left foot surgical scar; service connection for kidney removal and transplant; service connection for right foot scar; service connection for liver disease; service connection for erectile dysfunction; TDIU. If the Veteran perfects an appeal by submitting a timely VA Form 9, the issues should be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Michael Chandeck, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.