Scars decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an abdominal disability, a right lower quadrant scar, and an umbilical scar. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused by or aggravated during his periods of active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claims for the periods prior to and since August 26, 2011 were denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Veteran is currently in receipt of a combined 100% disability rating due to multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for hepatitis C, loss of balance, chest numbness, right and left upper extremity disability, sleep apnea, COPD, sinusitis, ventral hernia, and a higher rating for the chest surgical scar.

The Veteran's painful left groin scar is rated at 10% from April 1, 2009 to October 29, 2020.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to work given his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain all relevant medical records from RTC Great Lakes Recruit Training Command, specifically those related to a left index finger injury and infection during service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for various conditions, including a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a separate 10 percent rating for meralgia paresthetica. The Veteran also received increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left knee degenerative joint disease, and gunshot wound residuals. However, the Veteran did not receive a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss or a higher rating for his left knee instability.

The Veteran's scar of the neck has been granted an initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher.,Service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The Veteran is also seeking a compensable rating for his epididymal cyst.

The Veteran's previously service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal, and he was granted TDIU effective September 23, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of gastric bypass surgery revision and residual scars from gastric bypass surgery revision, finding that her pre-existing condition was aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his recurrent pilonidal cyst (scar) is remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of all evidence, including the Veteran's subjective statements.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since January 27, 2012. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left hip musculoskeletal disability and left hip scar have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding all of the remaining issues, including increased ratings for TBI and migraine headaches, as well as service connection claims for various disabilities. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected surgical scar on the right anterior neck is not rated higher than zero percent, as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the characteristics of disfigurement or functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right wrist disability, a right knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The left wrist disability and consequent scar claim is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a loss or loss of use other than an upper extremity, and he is not service-connected for a severe burn injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her service-connected residual scar status post appendectomy and exploratory laparotomy was denied. The Board also found that the issue of a higher rating for her residual scar right foot bunionectomy needed to be remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service connected varicocele removal, left scrotum with residual scar and entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The issues are being remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.