Scars decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that there was substantial compliance with the remand directives and these matters are again before the Board. The Veteran's correct mailing address needs to be confirmed, and he should submit any pertinent new evidence regarding his claimed conditions. Appropriate examinations need to be scheduled for each condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding hypertension, left head injury and traumatic brain injury, left lower temporal scar, and left ear hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for scars, status post surgeries and entitlement to TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of drainage of a left shoulder abscess, including glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and scarring. The decision finds that the Veteran's current disability is related to his in-service injury.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of service connection for chloracne, effective date prior to February 28, 2013, for a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, and increased ratings for erectile dysfunction (ED), coronary artery disease (CAD) with myocardial infarction (MI) and status post coronary bypass surgery, acne vulgaris with scarring, and DM. The issues of initial compensable ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (LUE), right (major) upper extremity (RUE), left (minor) lower extremity (LLE), and right lower extremity (RLE) have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for right ankle surgical scars has been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities, but the remaining issues have been remanded.,Service connection is granted for left knee and right knee disabilities as they are related to military service.,Service connection is granted for sinusitis and deviated septum surgery residuals based on their relationship to military service.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to unclear range of motion measurements and lack of clarification regarding flare-ups, pain on extension, and medication use.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for right and left knee strain, stress fracture, limitation of flexion and extension are denied. She is granted a separate disability rating evaluated at 10 percent, but no higher, for right knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected testicle removal with scars is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for scar status post left knee surgery is denied.,Service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include depression, is denied.,The claim for service connection for a trachea disorder secondary to service-connected lumbar spine DDD and spondylosis is remanded.,The Veteran's increased rating claims for the left knee disabilities are remanded.,The Veteran's increased rating claim for his lumbar spine disability prior to March 26, 2019 is remanded.,The Veteran's increased rating claims for radiculopathy of both lower extremities are remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claim for increased urinary frequency as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine DDD and spondylosis is remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claim for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine DDD and spondylosis is remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for verification of post-1973 periods of military service and associated records, as well as obtaining missing therapy records related to a PTSD increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's scars and his combat status in Vietnam. The Veteran is asked to provide more information about his reported scars, including photographs or medical reports, and VA will attempt to verify his combat service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the period prior to May 5, 2015, and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance Benefits for the same period. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities included lumbar spine spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, right cubital tunnel syndrome, left cubital tunnel syndrome, PTSD, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, left elbow degenerative joint disease and tendinosis, a lumbar scar, left second metacarpophalangeal joint post traumatic arthritis, and an abdominal scar. The decision is based on the Veteran's inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to May 18, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because his service-connected disabilities, especially the right hand neuropathy and scars on the right forearm, do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and unclear evidence regarding his claimed disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, and a comprehensive physical and mental health examination will be conducted to determine if any of the claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back and knee conditions, have resulted in the need for regular assistance with activities of daily living. The Board has found that these conditions meet the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and gunshot wounds to the hip and leg, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's lower intergluteal cleft scar is manifested by, at worst, a single scar which is painful and unstable. The Veteran's lower intergluteal cleft scar is also manifested by underlying soft tissue damage with a total area of 9 sq. cm.,The Veteran is in receipt of a noncompensable rating for her scar of the lower intergluteal cleft, as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7801.