Scars decisions — 2022

The Veteran's spouse was granted dependency benefits effective December 17, 2007, the date of his application for service connection.

The Veteran's burn scars, right mandible of face and neck were denied an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to October 18, 2021, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied an initial compensable evaluation prior to January 29, 2016, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, scar, medial right lower extremity, and scar, sternum with effective dates of December 24, 2013. However, the Board found that no earlier effective date could be assigned due to lack of evidence supporting such a claim. For his rating for ischemic heart disease, the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 1, 2017 due to her employment as a certified nurse assistant with VA. The Veteran worked until September 2017 and stopped working because she was no longer able to perform the physical and mental requirements of gainful activity.

The Veteran's posterior neck scar associated with hidradenitis suppurativa is rated at 30 percent.,For the appeal period prior to September 1, 2021, a 10 percent rating for scars of the abdominal panniculus with underlying soft tissue damage was granted. Beginning September 1, 2021, a 20 percent rating is assigned.,A separate 10 percent rating for unstable scars of the abdominal panniculus is also in effect.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his conditions are not severe enough to prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is granted for residuals of basal cell carcinoma.,Service connection is denied for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted. The claim for an increased rating for scarring of the left great toe remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis with gout and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's linear lower posterior middle back scar, but remanded the issues of higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI and asthma have been withdrawn.,The appeal regarding an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right eye disability is being remanded due to the need for clarification on the etiology of additional diagnoses noted in post-service medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for a chest scar has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the cases of his coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, insomnia, tobacco abuse, and substance abuse have been denied. The Veteran also has had his initial ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, left hip sprain with degenerative arthritis, residuals of left knee injury, status-post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and medial meniscus repair with degenerative arthritis and scars, left knee instability, right knee sprain with degenerative joint disease, and residuals of left thumb injury denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the failure to afford him an informal teleconference with a Decision Review Officer (DRO) as requested in his previous requests.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in service. The claims for reopening of diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, and skin disability are remanded due to new evidence. Other service connection claims are also remanded.

The Board granted a maximum rating of 30 percent for the status-post fasciotomy due to compartment syndrome of the left lower extremity, MG XI, from March 22, 2010. The other claims were denied.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 13, 2012, and dismissed the claims for increased ratings for varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to neck disability, change in color in the hands, headaches, weakness in the arm and numbness in the fingers, peripheral neuropathy of the chest wall, rib fractures status-post thoracotomy, penetrating muscle injury of the left chest, surgical scar of the left chest, painful surgical scar of the left chest, hypertension, left elbow degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to May 13, 2013. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,The Veteran's appeal also includes requests for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for penetrating muscle injury of the left chest, surgical scar of the left chest, and painful surgical scar of the left chest.