Scars decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 11, 2013 is remanded due to the possibility that he may be unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of right arm burn, left third finger disability, respiratory condition (asthma), and penis deformity. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.,The VA examiner will provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye disorders, including corneal scar, amblyopia, and visual defect, are related to his active duty service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, dermatitis, major depressive disorder, and lumbar spine disability, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 28, 2006. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with his bilateral hammertoes, status post surgery for phlangectomy bilateral fifth toe and right second toe, were each rated as 10 percent disabling from October 9, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is granted for a disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for painful scars from thoracotomy and lobectomy prior to June 28, 2016. The appeal is denied for entitlement to a disability rating greater than 20 percent for these scars after June 28, 2016.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for shrapnel wound, left ankle, muscle group XII; left ankle, residuals of shrapnel wound; and residual of shrapnel wound, right foot are being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case.,The Veteran is currently receiving separate 30 percent, 10 percent, and 10 percent ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for surgical scars of the abdomen was denied as there was no evidence of such scars during service or linked to his military service.,The Veteran's right knee medial collateral ligament sprain with mild instability and limitation of flexion were not rated higher than 10 percent, as they did not meet criteria for more severe conditions.

The rating reduction for post bunionectomy scar, right foot from 10 percent to 0 percent was proper due to clear and unmistakable error in the November 2014 rating decision. A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral feet painful scars status post bunionectomies is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected adjustment disorder with alcohol use, lumbosacral spine disability, left knee disability, and left knee scar are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of a back scar, a rating in excess of 20 percent for IVDS, and service connection for LUE PN have been denied.,Additional development is needed to address the severity of LLE radiculopathy and the etiology of sleep apnea secondary to a deviated septum.

The Board found that the Veteran's eye disabilities and vertebral artery aneurysm with abnormal gait did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to service, including as due to exposure to radiation. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's painful scars of the lower extremities, specifically on his left ankle, are granted an initial 10 percent rating prior to April 26, 2022. From that date, a higher rating is denied as there is no evidence of both painful and unstable scars.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's scar residuals of left hand shrapnel wound, finding that his scars did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient competent medical evidence to make a decision on the Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired pneumonia. The case is being remanded for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eye disability, claimed as left eye scar causing constant winking, is not service-connected and is not secondary to his service-connected facial scar. The bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as she is already in receipt of a combined 100% rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a full March 2015 consent form and a supplemental VA opinion to address whether the urodynamic procedure resulted in additional disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

Your initial claim for a compensable disability rating for left knee scars has been denied, and the appeal is dismissed as you have withdrawn your appeal.