Scars decisions — 2023

The Veteran's left achilles tendonitis is granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The Board also grants the Veteran a TDIU from March 20, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with his education and work history.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected residual scar from excision of lipoma over left scapula was dismissed. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep condition, as secondary to his service-connected residual scar.

The Veteran's appeal for disability evaluations and reopening of claims has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since May 31, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee scar, right knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder due to new evidence being added to the file.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity weakness, scar tissue of the throat (including difficulty swallowing), cardiac condition including atrial fibrillation and pre-ventricular contractions, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, and prostate injury causing erectile dysfunction are not service-connected.,The Board finds that these conditions were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for reentrance into a VR&E program and eligibility for retroactive payment of education expenses, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not worsen to the extent that he was precluded from performing work duties or that his previously rehabilitated occupation was unsuitable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification of the Veteran's left eye visual acuity measurements and the need for additional opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% prior to January 22, 2021, and at 70% thereafter. The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD beginning October 31, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected painful and unstable mid abdominal scars associated with status post jejunal resection with history of pancreatic duct injury and bruised liver are granted a 20 percent rating. The Veteran's abdominal scars with multiple trunk scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's right upper extremity nerve damage associated with the painful linear scar is granted an increased initial disability rating of 30 percent.,A TDIU is granted effective December 14, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent on and after October 23, 2019, for scar, surgical, left shoulder is dismissed. A 10 percent rating, and no higher, is granted for the same condition prior to October 23, 2019. The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder rotator cuff tear with left triceps muscle injury is remanded due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination. Service connection for headaches is also remanded as there are insufficient records to determine if they had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appendectomy scar is not related to his active service.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's migraine headaches to his military service.,Atrial fibrillation was not diagnosed during or proximate to the appeal period.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy and type II diabetes mellitus have been granted increased ratings, while erectile dysfunction and hypertension remain denied.,A separate initial disability rating of 10 percent has been granted for right ankle instability.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right knee scars, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension prior to November 23, 2018 due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Veteran's right small finger disability is rated as noncompensable, and the right foot lateral scars are each rated as noncompensable.,There is no evidence of a separate compensable rating for the right foot lateral scar.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 13, 2014, for the 60 percent rating assigned for coronary artery disease is granted. The effective date was based on a new claim filed by the Veteran shortly after his diagnosis.