Scars decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia is rated at 10 percent since September 18, 2013. Effective October 23, 2018, he received a separate 20 percent rating for scars on the neck, right flank, and left arm due to pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, left ankle degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, tender scars, inter-trochanteric fracture of the right hip, radiculopathy involving sciatic nerve on the left, and right knee strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that his disabilities are sufficiently disabling to meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for dermatitis scars and dermatitis have been granted, with the highest possible ratings under current criteria.,Issues related to hearing loss and a right foot plantar wart are being remanded.

The Board has remanded three issues: the initial rating for a low back disability, the initial rating for an inguinal hernia scar, and the issue of SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. Additional development is needed in each case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU due to new evidence showing worsening of his service-connected low back disabilities and left knee chondromalacia with meniscal repair and residual scars. The VA will schedule the Veteran for examinations, obtain additional records, and provide a full review of the case.

The Veteran's residual scarring of the left head area due to basal cell skin cancer is granted as service-connected. However, his left ankle disability is denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU due to inconsistencies in the examination records and the need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for action consistent with prior instructions regarding an earlier effective date for service connection of a scar associated with his lung cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings and increased ratings for abdominal scars and painful scars due to an insufficient examination in October 2020. The AOJ is instructed to schedule a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including hysterectomy residuals and various orthopedic issues, have rendered her unable to work in any physical or sedentary job throughout the appeal period. The Board has granted TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran's ADHD is not service-connected as it may be a congenital or developmental defect.,The Veteran's lymphedema of the right leg remains unclear and requires further evaluation.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's left wrist scar, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of a hand or foot, permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, his claim for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence, as well as to schedule VA examinations. The effective date of the award of service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, right leg varicose and venous stasis ulcers, and right leg scars have rendered him unable to maintain a substantially gainful occupation since May 16, 2011.

Your claims for increased ratings for left knee scar and total replacement are being remanded to the RO for additional development. You will need to provide any missing medical records, and your case will be reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of April 2012 for his right eye disability, as there is no evidence of a prior claim filed before April 25, 2014. The effective date was set at April 25, 2013 based on a liberalizing law.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability was denied, as the evidence did not show that his range of motion had been limited to 25 degrees from the side at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for painful scarring of the anterior trunk and left lower extremity associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery was denied. The scars were rated at 10 percent, but not more due to lack of instability or pain in additional scars.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for other scars from his coronary artery bypass graft surgery was also denied.