Scars decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also denied his claim for bilateral hearing loss and granted his claim for a head scar. The remaining issues, including arthritis of the right wrist, right shoulder rotator entrapment, bilateral foot pain, head trauma, diabetes mellitus, numbness in hands (secondary to diabetes), and hemorrhoids, have been remanded.

The Veteran's abdominal scars are granted as they were incurred during active service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

Service connection for skin cancer and a scar, status post skin cancer is denied.,The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches and face pain is rated at 10 percent from November 28, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, skin rash (recurring skin sensation disturbance), and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity is denied. The appeals are remanded to obtain additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to service connection and disability ratings for the Veteran's conditions. The VA will need to review additional treatment records before making a decision.

The Veteran's appeals for various disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for Morton’s neuroma with residual scar, right foot and a higher rating for scar, right foot due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right middle finger scar condition had its onset during service and granted service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) was denied because his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for SMC based on a single disability rated as total and an additional disability ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric and physical conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issues of service connection for a headache condition, left ankle condition, low back condition, and scar on right eye.

The Veteran's appendectomy scar has not been found to be painful or unstable, and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's compensable rating for his left hand scarring is denied as the scars are not painful or unstable, do not limit function, and do not affect an area equal to or greater than six square inches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied. The Board found that there was no in-service stressor and the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Headaches, Neuropsychiatric Disorder (with headaches), Anxiety, Residuals of TBI with Memory Loss, Right Eye Condition, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Post Traumatic Headaches with Dizzy Spells/Syncope (claimed as Migraines and Vertigo), Keloid Scars, and Tinnitus have been reopened. However, the claims for service connection for these conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for actinic keratosis scar residuals, not of the head, face, or neck, is granted effective September 20, 2016.,A compensable rating (10%) is also granted for a painful skin cancer scar residual on the facial area, effective September 20, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from securing and following a gainful occupation, and the Board is remanding his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) to consider if an extraschedular TDIU should be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including defective hearing and shell fragment wounds, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is granted increased ratings for his left knee disability, including a 30 percent rating for limitation of flexion and a 40 percent rating for limitation of extension prior to February 11, 2016. He also receives a 60 percent rating for status post total left knee replacement from April 1, 2017 to February 20, 2018.,The Veteran is denied increased ratings in excess of 60 percent for his total left knee replacement and prior to January 8, 2019 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter for his left knee scars. He also receives TDIU from February 1, 2020.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in February 2020 are inadequate for assessing the Veteran's range of motion. Therefore, a new examination is required to determine if there is any structural abnormality and whether passive range of motion would be more limited than active.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for scars of the head and an effective date prior to December 22, 2017 for service connection for scars of the head have both been denied by the Board.