Scars decisions — 2022

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU, leaving only the temporary total rating based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence issue. The Board dismissed all issues due to withdrawal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for migraines, bilateral leg disorder, right hand disorder (including nerve damage and neuropathy), right wrist scars, and head scars are remanded due to a failure to obtain relevant service treatment records. The Veteran is also advised to provide any outstanding in-service or post-service medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of a residual scar, status post coronary artery bypass graft due to lack of evidence of any formal or informal claim prior to February 10, 2017.

The Veteran's residuals of a circumcision, to include scarring, are etiologically related to his service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for cervical degenerative disc disease and bilateral heel spurs have been withdrawn. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, scar, left palm, and dermatophytosis are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in prior examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right eye anterior stromal scar were denied as the Veteran failed to report for VA examinations, which resulted in insufficient evidence to determine the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status was denied as he did not meet the requirements of having a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more, which would qualify him for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Veteran's painful scars resulting from pseudofolliculitis barbae are rated at 30 percent effective May 4, 2021. The rating for residuals of pseudofolliculitis barbae scars remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's earlier effective date claims for overactive bladder and ED have been withdrawn. The Board has also granted service connection for hypertension and fecal incontinence.,The Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities (left and right hips) are remanded for further development as the VA examination is inadequate to address secondary aggravation or direct service connection.,The Veteran's scars, related to his right total hip arthroplasty, are also remanded for a more current evaluation.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim is remanded due to the lack of recent medical evidence and an updated examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left eye blindness with macular scar and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current disabilities are related to in-service injuries and exposure. The decision is based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluations due to inconsistencies in the current VA examinations and new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable by reason of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to potential worsening of her right knee disability and its associated surgical scar, requiring further examination and assessment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from July 21, 2022.,The Veteran is granted a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left elbow disability and remanded the issues of service connection for post-operative residuals of abdominal surgery, other than residual scarring, and rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of acne scarring of the head, neck, and face.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings have been withdrawn and are dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal as to all issues.

The Veteran's effective date for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) is denied because he did not meet the eligibility criteria of a combined disability rating of at least 50% prior to March 30, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to November 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gunshot wound scars, left heel and abdomen was denied in a November 2015 rating decision. The evidence submitted following this denial is considered new and material to reopen the claim. However, the Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the loss of his service records and the need for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gunshot wound scars.