Scars decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.,Specifically, the Board finds that substantial compliance with its previous directives has not been met in several areas.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective September 27, 2010. The ratings for renal dysfunction, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and muscle group IV disability are denied. Service connection for hepatitis C and scar residuals from appendectomy, thoracotomy, laparotomy and cut-down scars in the right groin is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for deep and tender scars of the left femur were denied. The claim to reopen service connection for tinnitus was granted, with service connection established based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has found that another remand is necessary to obtain outstanding private treatment records and the Veteran employment information relevant to the time period prior to September 27, 2011. The TDIU claim was raised as part of a pending increased rating claim and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's CAD, including scars from his coronary bypass/graft surgery, was rated at 100% effective September 14, 2016. This rating is based on a workload of less than 4 METs and evidence of cardiac dysfunction.

The Veteran's right forearm scar has not been manifested by symptoms of the type and extent, frequency, and/or severity to warrant an initial compensable rating at any time since the effective date of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was remanded for issues related to service connection for various conditions, including skin cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, scarring of the lungs, and COPD. The appellant withdrew his claim for skin cancer due to Agent Orange exposure.,An effective date of February 12, 2015, was granted for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss disability, erectile dysfunction, a sleep disorder (RLS), and a headache disorder (migraines) are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation higher than 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for a scar of the left knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation higher than 10 percent prior to May 29, 2018 and higher than 40 percent from that date for low back strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a separate evaluation for bilateral sciatic radicular pain is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and left eye disability due to issues with the examination process, including a flawed psychiatric evaluation and inability to obtain necessary medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, folliculitis scars on the face, irritable bowel syndrome, sinusitis, and bronchitis have been denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for paresthesia in the right foot and toes is remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder chronic pain is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and new evidence added since the last statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including scarring of the lungs and COPD, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current condition and an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support such a higher rating given his symptoms and functional limitations.

The Veteran's appeal of reducing her acne with scarring of the face and neck disability rating from 30 percent to zero percent is dismissed because it was only a proposed reduction, not an official decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his ability to dress himself, keep himself clean, feed himself, attend to personal needs, and protect himself from daily hazards.

The Board has decided to remand the evaluation of right shoulder recurrent dislocation and left shoulder surgical scar due to potential inadequacies in previous examinations. The Veteran's claims will be addressed again after a new examination is conducted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and relevant evidence that could establish a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date of May 15, 2019, for a 10 percent rating each for his service-connected left thumb (extensor pollicis longus) laceration residuals and painful left thumb scar are granted.

The Veteran's left little finger scar is not service-connected as there was no current evidence of a scar.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's right knee disability to his active duty, and it is considered an acute injury that resolved prior to discharge.,Service connection for residuals of pharyngitis with history of upper respiratory infection cannot be established due to lack of current diagnosis.,The right ankle condition was noted as a sprain during service but has not been shown to have any chronicity or link to active duty.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's hypertrophied tonsils to his military service.,Service connection for an undescended right testicle cannot be established due to lack of current diagnosis.