Scars decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 2, 2018.,There is no evidence showing that the Veteran's COPD is related to his active-duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination reports and the need for updated treatment records. The Veteran's hiatal hernia and esophageal reflux with scar conditions are being reviewed again.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's chloracne with residual scarring, finding that it is related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for an appendectomy scar, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of aggravation during service or by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's lung disorders are related to his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 15, 2016 have been denied as there is no evidence of a claim filed before this date.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 3, 2012. The Board has remanded the case for further development including referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for facial scarring, left index finger injury, left ring finger injury, left little finger injury, left thumb injury, left wrist injury, and skin disease (claimed as 'rash all over body') due to potential new evidence. The Veteran will be provided a VA examination if his preexisting conditions are confirmed during the appellate period.

The Veteran's combined schedular rating for the service-connected conditions was 80% effective January 6, 2010, which granted him SMC housebound status as of that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral cataracts, left scar field detect, strabismus, drusen right macula, and bilateral arcus senilis is denied. The Board finds that the current disability element is established but does not meet the second requirement of an in-service injury or event due to incorrect factual history regarding a right eye injury. The claim for service connection for neck condition is remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for vertical surgical scars of the right and left knees have been denied.,The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for painful surgical scars of bilateral knees has also been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a right eye cornea scar and dismissed the claim of service connection for headaches due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's appeal of the December 2018 SOC is reinstated, and his claims for service connection are decided on their merits.

The Veteran's ratings for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, and lumbar spine painful scar were reduced from 10% to noncompensable effective August 1, 2023. The reduction was remanded due to inadequate consideration of whether there was an improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's scar on his right index finger is granted a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's hypertension and GERD are each rated at the maximum 10 percent level, as they do not meet criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's PTSD remains at the current 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee strain and residuals of right ankle condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his disabilities during flare-ups.

The Veteran's SLE with scarring alopecia and bilateral knee osteoarthritis was granted a 100 percent disability rating from May 11, 2021. Prior to that date, the Veteran had a 60 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his left shoulder scar, finding that the evidence did not show any painful or unstable scars warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 18, 2006 for the grant of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual employability (TDIU) is granted. The Board also found that referral for extra-schedular consideration was warranted due to unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities prior to September 18, 2006.