Scars decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for skin cancer of the head and nose, scarring of the head and nose, and TDIU have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for scars of the right knee was denied, and his claim for a higher rating for right knee disability status post medial meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease is remanded.

The Veteran's increased ratings for scars of the right buttocks, right heel, and left shoulder are denied. The appeal is also remanded for further determinations on service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives and inadequate medical opinions. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining missing records from a specific clinic.

The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for scar is granted, but her claim for a higher rating is dismissed.,Her right knee disability and lupus service connection claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.,Her hypertension service connection claim is also remanded.,Her bilateral hearing loss increased rating claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right big toe disability and a right shoulder scar require further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for acid reflux with GERD, hemorrhoids, a left hand condition, and a left hand scar. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,His low back scar was not found to meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, scars as secondary to prostate cancer, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The effective date was set at August 10, 2018.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the disability evaluation for scars, left breast, postoperative was improper and has granted restoration of a 10 percent rating. The issues of increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome with tendinitis, right wrist (dominant) and left wrist (nondominant), as well as entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period from January 1, 2018 to January 28, 2020. The claims for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected surgical scars of the right shoulder and service connection for a low back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his mid-chest scar prior to November 26, 2019 is dismissed. The Board grants the TDIU from July 22, 2011 to November 25, 2019 based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed.,The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for scars, status post prostatectomy and lymph node dissection is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for heart disease is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for lipoma is dismissed.,Tinnitus has been granted as service connected.,Hypertension has been granted as service connected due to the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service-connected left heel disability and scar are rated at 30 percent, while PTSD and OSA are granted with a 10 percent rating. The appeal is granted for all issues.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer, bowel incontinence, erectile dysfunction, scar, and surgical scar precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to his death. Therefore, the Board granted entitlement to a TDIU on an accrued benefits basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scars of the lateral side of neck and face, residuals of pseudofolliculitis barbae, and tender scars, lateral side of neck, residuals of pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for a left knee scar and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease are remanded. The TDIU claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, right and left knee conditions, hip and ankle arthritis, tinnitus, and other impairments, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Veteran's right wrist scar is granted service connection. The issues of initial compensable disability rating for right thumb scar, initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right thumb disability, and entitlement to service connection for right wrist disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to new evidence being added to the record since the September 2019 Supplemental Statement of the Case.