Scars decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disability other than right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, right ankle arthritis, right foot arthritis, right thigh shrapnel injury, and right thigh scars due to a shrapnel injury. The claim for PVD of the left leg is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further medical examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease and scar, status post coronary artery bypass graft.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to self-care for some daily personal needs and to protect herself from the hazards of daily life without the assistance of another person, warranting SMC based on the need for A&A.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective July 18, 2017.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for right elbow tendonitis. The Veteran's right elbow disability is remanded due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file.

The Veteran's SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted, as he requires assistance with dressing and preparing meals due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, post thoracotomy pain syndrome, and tender long thoracotomy scar with cross shaped scars due to additional delay caused by new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, squamous cell carcinoma of the left parotid gland, and facial scars due to cancer surgery. The Veteran asserts that these conditions are related to herbicide exposure during active service in Vietnam. Additional development is needed to confirm whether the Veteran served at Bien Hoa in 1972 as he claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing his service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's thoracic outlet syndrome, with left upper extremity nerve involvement has been granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent since September 5, 2017. The effective date for this increase is based on the date of his claim for increase.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite of the bilateral feet, PTSD, and hypertension. The claims for TBI, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral eye disability, and back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for scars of the abdomen, flank, hip, and hand, as well as residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hand with peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted due to his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dermatitis, left ankle and knee conditions, urticaria, and nerve injury, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he can perform most occupations due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for gum disease is denied, but a 10 percent rating is granted for his right shoulder surgical scar.

The Veteran's claims for a left wrist scar, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are being remanded due to procedural errors in the initial decision. The AOJ is instructed to provide VCAA notice and assist in obtaining any relevant private treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin disorders. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's appendicitis and resulting scar are related to service-connected gastroenteritis, which may have triggered or aggravated the condition.

The Veteran's death was caused by a probable accident resulting from combined drug toxicity. Service connection for the cause of death is granted, but accrued benefits and nonservice-connected death pension benefits are denied due to untimely filing.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities were granted, but an effective date earlier than January 13, 2017 is denied.