Scars decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, a left collar bone disability, facial lacerations with scars, migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and a left elbow disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease, right ankle with synovitis and ligament insufficiency. The issue of service connection for venous ulcer and leg cellulitis with scars of the right lower extremity is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for scars on feet and lower back condition have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to convalescence from back surgery has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma, including as due to herbicide agent exposure at Fort McClellan. The AOJ must undertake specific development steps and obtain a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's multiple myeloma is related to his alleged exposure to environmental toxins at Fort McClellan.

The Board denied service connection for a right eye disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his in-service injury and there is no evidence of a chronic disability during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further VA medical evaluation regarding the etiology of solar dermatitis, which may be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his inguinal nerve irritation/entrapment and tender scar from left varicocele surgery, finding that the current ratings of 10 percent are appropriate based on the severity of symptoms.

The Veteran's scar on the right buttock is rated at 10 percent, effective August 25, 2017. His cholinergic urticaria remains at a 10 percent rating, also effective from August 25, 2017.

The Veteran's residual scar on chin is granted service connection. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they pre-existed service and were not aggravated by service. Service connection for a dental condition is also denied due to lack of evidence showing bone loss through trauma or disease during active military service.

The Veteran's shrapnel in the left knee, bilateral shins, and facial scars are found to be at least as likely as not related to service due to combat. The right hip condition is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability evaluation for surgical scarring, status post cesarean section and revision procedure is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment prior to September 18, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment for the periods specified, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle sprain, healed right arm scar, and costochondritis, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted his TDIU claim.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but has remanded the issue of an increased PTSD rating due to outstanding VA records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s hypertension to service, and determined that he could perform sedentary employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability with postoperative scarring was evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for earlier effective dates for kidney cancer, lung cancer, scar as a residual of nephrectomy, SMC based on housebound criteria being met, and DEA eligibility due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 20, 2016, for service connection for forehead laceration with residual scar was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 20, 2016, for service connection for painful forehead scar secondary to the service-connected disability of forehead laceration with residual scar was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for forehead laceration with residual scar was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for painful forehead scar as secondary to the service-connected disability of forehead laceration with residual scar was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected scars are rated at a 20 percent disability rating, which is the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that the Veteran has three painful scars and granted an increased initial disability rating of 20 percent.