Scars decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service. The right foot, RUEPN, LUEPN, RLEPN, LLEPN, left hip, right hip, right CTS, left CTS, right hip scar, lumbar spine, CAD, left knee, right knee, hypertension, and ED conditions are not found to be related to his active duty service. The Veteran's Hepatitis C is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or residuals associated with the condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for retained fragment of right cornea with corneal scar is denied. A separate 10 percent disability rating for right eye visual field defect is granted, effective January 25, 2021.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for right pinky boxer's fracture residuals, right hand scar, left ankle condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition have been granted.,Service connection has also been granted for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the left knee, but denied service connection for a current left leg disability other than a scar. The case is remanded for further development regarding entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of a right great toe fracture and TDIU.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for scars associated with left knee disability has been denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating for left knee degenerative arthritis is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior VA examination report.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right fourth finger scar, and erectile dysfunction were denied as they are not supported by evidence of a claim prior to August 22, 2021.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, right fourth finger scar, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period on review, outside of the convalescent period. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, and the case was remanded for further action.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with L5-S1 disc protrusion, left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, urinary frequency, and residual scars associated with the condition have been granted increased ratings. The Veteran is now receiving a disability rating of 40 percent for urinary frequency on and after November 19, 2019.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for right leg burn scar. Service connection is granted for respiratory disorder, sinusitis, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, LLE peripheral neuropathy, multiple joint disability (arthritis), fatigue, and GERD based on presumptive exposure to fine particulate matter in the Persian Gulf.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for her left foot scar prior to July 5, 2022 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scar, left foot from July 5, 2022 is denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as her service-connected disabilities do not render her unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for residual scar of coronary bypass graft was denied as there were no other disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied due to the lack of a current diagnosis that conforms to DSM-5 criteria and the absence of evidence linking current symptoms to service. The Veteran's mental health records do not show any mental disorders or treatment related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for scar, right lower donor site was denied as there were no other disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for scar, left lower donor site was denied as there were no other disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.

The Board has dismissed all issues due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evaluations and considerations of separate ratings for ear conditions, including perforated ear drum, ear scaring, running ear, and chronic otitis media. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is also being reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his service-connected knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the current evaluations are appropriate and do not warrant additional compensation.

The Veteran's unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities has been recognized, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (s)(1).

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left wrist scars, to include on an extraschedular basis, was denied due to the lack of qualifying scar area and no associated underlying soft tissue damage or instability.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder was also denied as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and right inguinal hernia with scar due to incomplete STRs, lack of verification of duty status during relevant periods, and need for additional medical opinions.