Scars decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied service connection for a right wrist injury, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, and a right wrist scar.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 1, 2020 due to unclear time period addressed in the VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his cervical spine scar was granted with an effective date of February 27, 2017. The appeals for all other issues were dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were dismissed. An effective date of August 14, 2017, was granted for a 20 percent rating for neuropathy of the left lower extremity, femoral nerve.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to new evidence received since the last Statement of the Case. The claims will be readjudicated in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was denied prior to July 22, 2019. A 20 percent disability rating is granted beginning from that date.,A non-compensable rating for the right knee surgical scar remains unchanged.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's left shoulder surgical scar, finding that it did not meet the criteria under Diagnostic Codes 7802, 7801, or 7805.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date of May 5, 1998, for the award of a separate rating for right knee surgical scars is granted. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee injury, scar from left knee surgery, pain in buttocks from surgery, and MRSA due to lack of qualifying service.

The petition to reopen the previously denied service connection claim for a right hand burn scar with sensitivity to cold is granted.,The petition to reopen the previously denied service connection claim for bilateral hand arthritis is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not sufficient to warrant special monthly compensation based on housebound status or the need for aid and attendance. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability and scarring is being remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the onset of his conditions during service.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are not found to cause the need for aid and attendance, leading to a remand for further clarification.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and he did not meet the eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected death pension benefits or DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for left ankle surgical scars has been denied. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for his service-connected left ankle and right great toe disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's left foot scar, sinusitis, vasomotor rhinitis, acne, chronic yeast vaginitis, and migraine headaches are all denied increased ratings.,Specifically, the Veteran's left foot scar is not rated higher than 10 percent. Her sinusitis does not meet criteria for a 30 percent rating due to insufficient incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes. The Veteran's vasomotor rhinitis does not result in at least 50% obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, nor are there any nasal polyps present.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and retrospective opinions regarding his service-connected abdominal hernia and surgical scar disabilities. The Board finds that the prior VA examinations are incomplete and do not address the Veteran's credible lay statements about his continuing symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar strain, cervical strain, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD), and sleep apnea are all rated at the 10% level. The anterior palatoplasty and uvuloplasty scar claim is denied.