Scars decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition, including facet arthritis with lumbar strain, DDD, anterior subluxation, herniated nucleus pulposus and scars (low back), is related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient evidence from the period prior to March 28, 2018. The VA will need to provide updated treatment records and schedule a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left ankle disability and scar.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for additional special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the disability rating for left thigh scar prior to March 3, 2020, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Board has dismissed this issue.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral iliac artery aneurysm, right; bilateral iliac artery aneurysm, left; carotid artery occlusive disease; infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm; and removal of spleen due to river flukes as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease. The issues of service connection for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II (due to herbicide exposure) have been granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims of service connection for lupus panniculitis, sensitivity to cold, head scar, and two right shoulder scars. As a result, the Board dismissed these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain (low back disability) and right foot degenerative arthritis (right foot disability).,Service connection is denied for a lineal mid-forehead scar and benign paroxysmal vertigo (BPV).

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted. The rating issues related to his knees and lower extremities, as well as his left eye disabilities, are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disease with spinal stenosis and right ankle disability were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings in several conditions, including left sided sciatica radiculopathy and sinusitis. The Veteran's lumbar spine scar and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were granted initial compensable ratings, while his spermatocele (status post vasectomy) and right ankle sprain with instability were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee disability and other musculoskeletal issues, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 19, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the etiology of his cervical spine disability, assess the severity of his lumbar spondylosis, right knee strain, left knee degenerative joint disease, and TDIU. The issues on appeal include service connection for a cervical spine disability, increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis, right knee strain, and left knee degenerative joint disease, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of the right knee, left knee, and low back made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 30, 2012. A TDIU was granted effective February 7, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not sufficiently severe to inhibit his ability to obtain gainful employment, and the Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right foot and toes conditions, head injury, bilateral knee conditions, and a leg scar related to the in-service fracture. The Veteran's current disabilities are not definitively linked to his tibial plateau fracture.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, bronchiolitis, right eye corneal scar disability, and left eye corneal scar disability are all granted service connection. Service connection for hyperopia is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for hearing loss, headaches, TBI, mandibular malunion with TMJ, septal fracture post rhinoplasty, left femur fracture residuals, and scar of the left femur.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids have not been shown to be severe enough for a compensable rating.,His excision sebaceous cyst scar has not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. Service connection was granted for asthma, head laceration scar, an acquired psychiatric disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period from January 1, 2017 through January 10, 2017.