Scars decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and right hand little finger scar was denied. The Board found that the severity of the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD or 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus type II, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions preclude him from working.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a right knee disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for a right tibia scar is not supported by the evidence, as there is no indication of an in-service injury related to the scar.

The Veteran's service-connected right posterior scalp scar and right scalp scar as a residual of basal cell carcinoma have been granted an initial 10 percent rating, effective prior to the dates noted.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for jaw condition, mouth scars, and lumbar spine disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's hypertension and generalized anxiety disorder are granted service connection based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange. His right hip joint replacement is granted a rating of 70 percent, which is the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,An increased rating of 60 percent, but no higher, for coronary artery disease (CAD) from February 20, 2020, effective January 28, 2021, is granted. The Veteran's CAD has been rated as left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction between 30% and 50%, but not more than that.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for surgical scar, mid sternum is denied. His tinnitus claim also does not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date of February 20, 2020.,An initial noncompensable rating for surgical scar, mid sternum is granted from February 20, 2020.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating for limited motion of the ankle.,The Veteran's surgical scars of the right shoulder are not compensable as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as secondary to bipolar disorder, but the issues of service connection for hepatitis C and liver scarring are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's lung condition with scarring is being reviewed again.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected painful surgical scar of the left wrist, finding that his symptoms are already compensated for within the ratings assigned for other related conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings has been resolved. The right wrist disability was dismissed, the left elbow disability was denied, and the right ankle and neck disabilities were granted with specific rating criteria. The left ankle and right ankle scar disabilities remain denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted for the period from February 8, 2010 to April 3, 2014 on an extraschedular basis and from April 13, 2014 to March 13, 2015 on a schedular basis. The combined rating of his service-connected disabilities was sufficient for TDIU during these periods.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to a lack of evidence showing he is bedridden or in need of regular aid and assistance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has restored service connection for coronary artery disease and a scar of the anterior trunk, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand. The grant of service connection is based on presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes aggravated his left eye corneal scarring.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims regarding earlier effective dates and compensable evaluations for his surgical scars, as well as denied his petition to reopen his service connection claims for eczema (claimed as squamous cell carcinoma) and cystic acne. The case was also remanded for further action on these issues.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims prior to a decision being made.

Service connection is granted for fibromyalgia, right and left hand disabilities, and right and left little, long, index, ring fingers, and thumbs. Service connection is denied for painful joints, degenerative arthritis, respiratory disorder (other than service-connected allergic rhinitis), muscle pain, gynecological disability (other than service-connected scars status post laparoscopy for ovarian cyst), left toe fracture, left foot and toe condition, right foot and toe condition, dizziness, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's spouse was granted dependency compensation effective from November 28, 2011, the date of his service-connected disability rating.