Scars decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory disorder, and low back disorder due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the previous remand.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder and right knee scars have been granted initial compensable ratings.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for total reconstruction of urinary tract due to urethral stricture disease, with residual scar tissue and voiding dysfunction, has been dismissed as the Appellant agreed with the March 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal was partially granted, with some issues being denied and others having their evaluations adjusted. The decision also addressed the effective date for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of burn scars on legs and torso, finding clear and unmistakable error in the December 1981 rating decision that denied such claim. The decision is based on the correct application of law regarding aggravation of a pre-existing condition during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 3, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral inguinal hidradenitis with scarring and recurrent exacerbations is rated at 60 percent, the highest possible under current criteria. The scars associated with his hidradenitis are also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and initial compensable rating have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these issues during the April 2022 Board hearing.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure. The right flank scar issue has been remanded for further examination and rating.

The Veteran's left eye disability, including corneal and chorioretinal scar and eye pain, is granted with a 10 percent rating. A separate 10 percent rating is also granted for eye pain and headaches. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the impact of his COPD on employment and a need for further examination to separate PTSD symptoms from those caused by COPD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for issues related to surgical scars post bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy and service connection for a left arm condition. The remaining claims of entitlement to increased ratings for shoulder disabilities, inguinal hernia, pes planus, and leg conditions are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding increased ratings for painful residual scar, right foot and right foot pes planus as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and the need for clarification regarding the Veteran's eye scar, including whether it had visible or palpable tissue loss at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, kidney disability, urinary disability, right leg muscle disability, esophageal/gastrointestinal disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right ankle scar.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left lower thigh scar was denied because he failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of one or both hands, and therefore he is not eligible for financial assistance for an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his reported symptoms and diagnoses. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical opinions on whether his cicada sounds in the ears are related to otitis externa, or if they represent a separate condition. Additionally, he is asked to provide clarification regarding his right eye disability, including any scars from an in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for neck scars, bilateral metatarsalgia with hallux valgus, bilateral pes planus with callus formation, and migraine headaches have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to service-connected PTSD.