Scars decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for compensation due to additional disabilities of the right eye and pulmonary embolism/thrombocytopenia resulting from cataract surgery were denied as there was no evidence that these conditions resulted from VA care or fault.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability and remanded the issue of service connection for an appendectomy with residual stomach scar.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 25, 2011. The claims for tobacco use disorder, left foot disability, right foot disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability were all denied as not related to service or due to other pre-existing conditions.,The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea was denied. The claim for residuals of a left forearm scar was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer are rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 7528.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 22, 2016 to June 5, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of TDIU subsequent to June 5, 2019 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the extent of service-connected PFB and whether any keloid scarring is related to this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right wrist scar has been dismissed as the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development and readjudication due to new VA records being added to the file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied. The case is now REMANDED to the RO for further development.,A staged disability rating of 10 percent for a residual scar of the right cheek, as due to pain, from December 3, 2013, under Diagnostic Code 7804 has been granted. However, the initial claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his residual scar, stab wound, right shoulder is being remanded due to the failure to schedule and complete a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma with scar and asthma, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for appendectomy scars were denied. The effective dates assigned are the date of receipt of the claims, December 7, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further evidence. The right and left ankle disabilities are currently rated at 20% each, while the left knee scar remains at 0%. Further examination or evidence is required.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a lumbar spine disability is denied as the earliest date entitlement arose was October 11, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee conditions and scars, do not render him unemployable prior to May 2, 2018. The evidence shows he was capable of performing sedentary employment but not heavy or strenuous physical labor.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient examination reports, particularly regarding the severity of the Veteran's left thigh and hip disabilities. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD and right eye injury, which are rated at 30% each. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether these conditions prevent the Veteran from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee conditions and prostatitis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20% prior to May 2, 2017 and then upgraded to 30% from May 2, 2017 to July 7, 2019. The claim for a higher rating is denied after that date.