Scars decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but the remaining issues have been remanded due to new evidence and development needs.

The Board has granted restoration of service connection for left knee instability and a left knee scar, finding that the severance was improper due to CUE.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee chondromalacia remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to potential eligibility for SMC under certain criteria. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated in detail.

The Veteran's service-connected scarring of the abdomen, right ankle, and right knee is granted a 20% evaluation effective September 19, 2012. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability secondary to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for an initial compensable rating for surgical scar, posterior trunk and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for a higher rating for lung carcinoma status post left lower lobectomy was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residual scarring following shrapnel removal, but denied service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD and MDD is dismissed as the claim has been granted.,The appeal for service connection for a left eye disorder, other than central retinal artery occlusion, is dismissed as the claim has been granted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The initial rating for left eye chorioretinal scars and cataract is granted at 10%, but a higher rating is denied. A separate 10% rating is granted for dry eye syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral eye condition, including cataracts and other related conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain a supplemental opinion from an appropriate examiner to determine if any current eye condition is causally or etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while limiting his employment opportunities, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are less than total in severity and he has other employable skills.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a compensable rating for scars of the forehead and right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis with rotator cuff tendonitis status post shoulder strain.

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye corneal scar and an upper lip scar. Service connection for a headache disability due to the right eye corneal scar is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service.,The Veteran's left leg scar, chest scar, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service.,The Veteran's left leg scar, chest scar, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service.,The Veteran's left leg scar, chest scar, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to additional delay and need for an addendum opinion regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Veteran's bilateral foot scars and related disabilities have been rated at 30 percent since March 2010. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the scars, as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7804. A total rating for compensation purposes based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted from March 22, 2017 to November 15, 2018.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development due to incomplete or contradictory examination reports. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus his claim for TDIU is denied.