Scars decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a chin scar, finding that the Veteran sustained a laceration to his chin during active duty and was treated with sutures. The scar is considered well-healed.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, status post cholecystectomy, and a scar on the right buttock due to the Veteran's dishonorable discharge from active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for necrotizing pancreatitis residuals, postoperative scars associated with necrotizing pancreatitis, and bilateral glaucoma as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for removal of section of large intestine and related surgical scar are dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for acquired psychiatric disability prior to November 2018 is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic arthritis of the left ankle and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 26, 2019.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chorioretinal scar of the left eye and sternotomy scar need further review due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for urinary incontinence as a neurological manifestation of his service-connected lumbosacral strain has been denied. The Board found that the medical evidence does not support a finding that the urinary incontinence is related to his back disability. For the TDIU claim, the Veteran meets the schedular criteria but fails to provide sufficient evidence regarding the economic component as detailed by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to January 20, 2020 do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. From January 20, 2020, the Veteran has a combined schedular rating of 100 percent and TDIU cannot be granted on the basis of one service-connected disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been rated at 10 percent and no higher, which is the maximum available under VA regulations.,The effective dates for service connection of MDD, right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain, right knee anterior scar, and tinnitus have not been earlier than August 29, 2018.

The Board has determined that the VA Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits was inadequate, as it did not address whether the Veteran requires personal care services each time he completes one or more activities of daily living (ADLs). The case is being remanded to conduct an updated medical review.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was not secondary to a service-connected disability, was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The evidence of record persuasively weighs against finding that the Veteran has had chloracne at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The evidence of record persuasively weighs against finding that the Veteran has had bilateral tinea pedis at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The evidence of record persuasively weighs against finding that a right cheek laceration scar began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The cerebrovascular accident is not secondary to a service-connected disability and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is not secondary to a service-connected disability and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is not secondary to a service-connected disability and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is not secondary to a service-connected disability and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is not secondary to a service-connected disability and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The bilateral hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development and consideration by the Director of VA's Compensation Service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected inguinal hernia, scars, and associated functional limitations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered individually, do not preclude him from engaging in gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress, lumbar spine disability, painful scars of the right knee, hypertension, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to procedural issues, including a lack of proper form use.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease from September 6, 2011 to October 3, 2011 has been found to have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his left knee scar, right and left knee medial-lateral instability, and synovitis and osteoarthritis of the right knee with limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left foot bullet wound including degenerative arthritis with residual scars was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's lay testimony established the occurrence of in-service stressors related to fear of hostile military activity.