Scars decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed eye disabilities other than refractive errors are proximately due to and/or aggravated by his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's angioedema is rated at a maximum of 40 percent, but the Board has granted a 60 percent rating based on chronic refractory urticaria requiring third line treatment.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder (MDD) is rated at 100 percent effective March 31, 2017. The Board found that her MDD warranted this rating as of that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.,Her initial claim for a caesarean section scar has been granted with an initial noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's left ear disability and head scars are currently rated based on their service-connected conditions, with no extraschedular rating granted.,The Veteran's left ear disability is not entitled to an extraschedular rating due to the adequacy of the current schedular criteria. The compensable ratings for his hearing loss, tinnitus, and facial nerve paralysis adequately reflect his symptoms.

The Veteran's right eye retinal detachment is granted as service-connected, but a higher disability rating for the detached retina remains denied. A separate 10% rating for his severe corneal scar of the right eye is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection claims for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for scar formation residual to appendectomy/inguinal hernia, has been granted. The appeal is remanded for further development on the issues of service connection.

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

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to insufficient medical evidence of current severity of service-connected lumbar spine, right and left elbow disabilities. Additionally, a determination is needed regarding housebound-in-fact and aid and attendance special monthly compensation.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for a right ankle scar associated with right ankle injury status post internal fixation, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable disability rating under VA's skin and scars rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU effective November 16, 2020. The appeal is remanded for consideration of TDIU prior to this date.

The Veteran's knee disabilities were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and examination, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if he currently has any of the claimed disabilities or if they are related to his service.

The Veteran's right knee strain is rated at 10 percent, and his right knee scars are rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's request for a higher rating for both conditions was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant service treatment records being associated with the case. The RO is required to obtain VA examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with prior remand directives and thus requires another remand for the specified actions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his residual scar of the right wrist, secondary to ganglion cyst removal is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right wrist strain status post ganglion cyst removal is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a compensable rating for a scar, status post right inguinal hernia repair.

The Veteran's left knee arthroscopy scars are rated at 10 percent since August 2, 2017. The scars are painful and meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Code 7804.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbosacral strain, left knee radiculopathy, and instability. The appeal for sleep apnea is also being remanded due to a lack of consideration of relevant evidence.