Scars decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of higher disability ratings for left ankle disability and left ankle surgical scar.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are being remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's left knee scar has been granted a 10 percent disability rating effective from February 26, 2018. The Veteran also received separate ratings for instability of the left knee and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee based on limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's right hip disability, including his residual scar and painful scars, is rated at 10 percent since January 23, 2019.,An earlier effective date for the service connection of these conditions has been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck scar and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right elbow disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for stroke residuals. The decision on aid and attendance is pending as it was not decided in this appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating have been dismissed as he requested to withdraw all issues on appeal.

Your appeals for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and skin cancer lesions with painful scarring have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are now closed.

The Board denied the petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and relevant evidence had not been received.

Your appeals for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and skin cancer lesions with painful scarring have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are now closed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete treatment records and inadequate opinions concerning the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to scars and basal cell carcinoma. The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained prior to the March 2023 rating decision were inadequate for determining the appropriate ratings, particularly regarding the nature of the scarring. Therefore, these issues are being remanded to obtain further evaluations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the right and left-posterior hip scars, status post back surgery, by submitting a statement in June 2023. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's left foot scar, finding that there were no other disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's scars of the face and neck are due to sun exposure during his active-duty service, resulting in basal cell carcinoma. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these scars were caused by service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right ear scar, which meets at least two characteristics of disfigurement as per Diagnostic Code 7800.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues listed, as the Veteran withdrew her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU based on extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of left inguinal hernia and left inguinal hernia scar have been denied as there is no evidence of recurrent or postoperative recurrent hernias requiring truss or belt support, and the left inguinal hernia scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7802.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for the Veteran's right knee scar, finding that the evidence did not show it was unstable or painful and did not cause any functional limitations.