Scars decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right ankle disability and scar are granted service connection. His generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are granted a rating of 70 percent effective September 25, 2019, with a separate rating for instability due to his knee condition. The Veteran is also granted TDIU effective July 3, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100 percent initial disability rating, and his shrapnel scars are granted a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are likely to prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. The claims for increased ratings in various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral hip conditions, lung condition with shortness of breath and breathing problems, and left middle finger scar due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for forehead scars prior to September 15, 2021 and since that date was denied as the medical evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of painful or unstable scars, visible or palpable tissue loss, disfigurement, or gross distortion or asymmetry of facial features.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, qualifying for TDIU. The Veteran is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, thus SMC on the basis of aid and attendance is denied.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a hysterectomy, painful abdominal scar secondary to hysterectomy, and incontinence secondary to hysterectomy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for postherpetic neuralgia of the 9th cranial nerve involving the right ear was granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective August 13, 2020. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's migraines associated with TBI are granted a 30 percent rating, effective August 5, 2021. The left knee patellofemoral syndrome is granted a separate 10 percent rating for painful limitation of extension from July 26, 2021. Other issues and conditions remain unresolved.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his right eye disability. The case will be returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 10, 2016 and July 23, 2016 for residuals of rectal fistula repair associated with IBS and surgical scar, rectal fistula repair are granted, with an effective date set at February 2, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since October 7, 2014.,The Veteran is currently entitled to a TDIU rating on a schedular basis effective September 8, 2015. However, his case was remanded for additional development regarding service connection for sleep apnea.

The reduction in rating for the Veteran's painful scars from 30 to 10 percent effective February 7, 2018 was improper; therefore, the 30 percent rating is restored as of the date it was reduced.,Entitlement to a compensable rating for male gynecomastia, status post breast surgery, is denied.,The Veteran's entitlement to a rating higher than 30 percent for his painful scars, status post excision of breast tissue, is also denied.

The Veteran's skin cancer residual scars and disfigurement due to skin cancers of the head and ears do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.,For both conditions, the preponderance of the evidence does not support an increase in the current 10 percent ratings.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right inguinal hernia and scar associated with hernia repair are remanded due to the possibility of increased severity.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for stomach ulcers is remanded as there has not been an opinion regarding any relation to medication taken for his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion on secondary etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a condition of the hips (claimed as bone deterioration) is remanded due to potential relation to radiation exposure during service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right inguinal hernia, stomach ulcers, lumbar spine condition, and bilateral knees are remanded due to need for additional examination on secondary etiology.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability is remanded as there is need for assessment of current functional impairment caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for right wrist disability was denied, and the Board has remanded his claims for left hand and thumb disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is also seeking a higher rating for his left ring finger condition.

The Veteran's facial trauma residuals and post-traumatic left hemicephalia/headaches have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's service-connected traumatic deviated nasal septum with scar has also been denied, as it does not meet the schedular rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for stage 3 breast cancer and a compensable rating for scar, right knee status post knee replacement are dismissed.

The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is granted, and his initial 30 percent rating for painful abdominal scars is granted prior to November 25, 2016. The appeal regarding deep/nonlinear abdominal scars and superficial/nonlinear abdominal scars is not addressed as they are denied.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is rated at 20 percent since February 20, 2018. He also received a separate 10 percent rating for his pinguecula with corneal scarring and a higher 30 percent rating for his infiltrative keratitis and open angle glaucoma after November 23, 2020.,The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is rated at 20 percent since February 20, 2018. He also received a separate 10 percent rating for his pinguecula with corneal scarring and a higher 30 percent rating for his infiltrative keratitis and open angle glaucoma after November 23, 2020.,The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is rated at 20 percent since February 20, 2018. He also received a separate 10 percent rating for his pinguecula with corneal scarring and a higher 30 percent rating for his infiltrative keratitis and open angle glaucoma after November 23, 2020.