Scars decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disorder, right knee disorder, and left ankle disorder have been denied. The Board has remanded these issues.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disorder and head injuries, have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or direct causation. The Board found that the Veteran did not experience current residuals from acknowledged in-service head injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder arthritis, residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder, and right scapular area scar. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for a painful left heel scar were denied as the earliest possible effective date provided by law has already been assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of pneumonia, pleural scarring in lungs and bacterial lung infection has been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of pleural scarring or a relationship between the Veteran's current respiratory condition and his in-service pneumonia.

The Veteran's right fifth metatarsal, left second metatarsal and left ankle postoperative scars are granted with a 10% rating each.,An earlier effective date of January 6, 2016 is granted for the award of an increased, 10 percent rating for right fifth metatarsal postoperative scar.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a pilonidal cyst from the left gluteus and a left gluteus scar. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral foot disability and residual scar status post ganglion cyst removal. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury, bilateral leg disability, and bilateral eye condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The remaining claims for increased ratings and effective dates are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 25, 2015 for separate 10 percent ratings for painful scars of the right posterior chest and buttock were denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for peripheral nerve disability was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for swallowing difficulty associated with a 1988 surgery is denied, and the rating for his painful tracheostomy scar is granted at 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found the evidence does not support a higher rating for PTSD or an increased rating for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neurological impairment of the bilateral upper extremities, scars/tightness secondary to such impairment, and hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus due to further development being necessary.

The Veteran's left eye residual corneal scarring and associated loss of vision are related to service, granted.

The Board is remanding the case to attempt to obtain legible copies of official records, such as morning reports, for the Veteran's unit. The appellant maintains that the Veteran was a prisoner of war (POW) and had scars from a bayonet wound.

The Veteran's headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted.,The scars from meningitis are currently rated at 10 percent and no higher rating is granted as they do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's CAD, status post CABG, is currently rated at 60 percent and the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's residual surgical scarring associated with CAD status post CABG has been rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's hypertension has required continuous management by medications but has never met the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on pure tone threshold average or speech discrimination rate.,The Veteran's chronic atrial fibrillation has been rated at 30 percent and factors warranting extraschedular consideration are neither shown nor alleged.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for post-operative bilateral inguinal hernia with residual surgical scars is granted, and he is now rated at a 40 percent disability level.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to herbicide exposure is granted. The claim for an increased rating for kyphosis with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, and a surgical scar associated with Crohn's Disease is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disorders. The claim for right hand disorder was also denied as there is no current diagnosed disorder related to his period of service.