Scars decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The effective date of service connection for TBI prior to April 27, 2017 is denied. The effective date of service connection for a scar, residual of TBI, prior to April 27, 2017 is also denied. The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI and an initial compensable rating for the scar, residual of TBI, are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The issue of service connection for burn scars is being remanded.

The Veteran is granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities from October 19, 2006 and TDIU based on depressive disorder alone from October 25, 2019.,Effective October 25, 2019, the Veteran also receives SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis with headaches, PUD, appendectomy scar, frostbite residuals of the right foot, and PN of the bilateral feet has been reopened. Effective May 13, 2010, service connection was granted for left foot PN. An effective date prior to April 18, 2011, is denied for all other issues.,Right foot conditions, including hallux valgus and plantar fibroma status post fascial injury, are remanded for clarification of their etiology.

The Board dismissed the appeals for hypertension and scar on nose, status post chip nasal fracture due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's left and right thumb scars, as well as his TBI residuals, have been granted a disability rating of 10 percent each. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a laceration scar on the left lower leg below the knee and remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's ED, painful inguinal hernia scar, bilateral hearing loss, right inguinal hernia repair, and umbilical hernia are all granted service connection. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for the painful inguinal hernia surgical scar.

Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for circumcision scarring is denied.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for right shoulder rotator cuff tear, subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis (claimed as right shoulder disability) secondary to service-connected left ankle sprain with instability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thyroid disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residual facial scar with numbness secondary to skin cancer of the right temple and asthma were denied. The claim for choroidal melanoma, left eye was remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for TMJ, facial scar, headaches as secondary to TMJ, and low back disability on a direct basis.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% rating, effective April 22, 2020. The Veteran’s painful left thumb scar remains at a 10% rating. Service connection for the back disability and substance use disorder secondary to PTSD are granted. The Board remanded service connection claims for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and musculoskeletal pain.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee replacement, status post osteoarthritis, is secondary to his service-connected residuals of right great toe fracture and/or service-connected right knee replacement, status post osteoarthritis. The issue of entitlement to service connection for painful scars, as secondary to left knee replacement, remains remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left forehead scar is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left shoulder disability and other conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to the severity of his disabilities. The Board found that he was unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has granted service connection for athlete's foot and scar disabilities, but has remanded the cases of back disability, dental condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, and joint and muscle pain.

The Veteran's TDIU is denied as his date of entitlement to a schedular TDIU is March 31, 2018. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the economic component of a TDIU prior to March 30, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and will be considered on the merits. The Board is unable to make a fully-informed decision without additional medical evidence regarding whether his current psychiatric condition is related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current disability in either ear, and any pre-existing left ear hearing loss did not worsen during service.