Scars decisions — 2020

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's cholecystectomy scar, finding that it is painful and causes limited range of motion. The decision does not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and earlier effective dates, including for her heart condition, left shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, and limitation of motion in her elbows. The specific nature of these issues is not provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has denied service connection for a left long finger scar, arthritis, and paresthesias/dysesthesias. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's migraine headaches and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues have been dismissed.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for his left knee condition from 40 percent to 40 percent effective November 1, 2019, as the evidence did not show sustained improvement in his condition that would warrant a lower rating.

The Veteran's residuals of a laceration to the left hand and left hand scar are rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not show deep or limited motion scars exceeding 12 square inches.

The Veteran's bladder cancer and residual scarring as secondary to bladder cancer are remanded for further examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to prostatectomy is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lung disorder, increased ratings for right and left knee disorders, and compensable ratings for scars associated with those conditions. The Veteran's military occupational specialty (MOS) and service are being reviewed to determine if asbestos exposure resulted in his current lung disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right foot scar. The Veteran is required to provide a medical opinion linking her current condition to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right shoulder scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The issues of increased evaluations for his residuals, dislocated right shoulder and plantar warts, bilateral feet are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records related to an incident involving PCP ingestion.

The Veteran's scoliosis, intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar fusion with scar, and right pelvic tilt were found to be aggravated by service. Service connection was granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of COPD and entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that COPD was not caused by military service or secondary to his service-connected recurrent pneumonia with lung scarring, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee limitation of motion, hypertension, toenail fungus/onychomycosis (claimed as foot fungus), and residual raised scar/skin condition due to insect bite. The Veteran will need to provide updated medical records and undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cavernous sinus tumor and scars prior to December 31, 2013 is granted. However, the claim for a lower rating for scars thereafter remains denied.

The Veteran's maxillary retention cyst with chronic sinusitis, status post laceration with scar, right hand, and dysthymic disorder have been granted initial disability ratings. The HSV rating remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and a need to issue a Statement of the Case.