Scars decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral scar, status post prostatectomy scar, and status post angioplasty scar was properly reduced from 20% to a noncompensable rating effective November 1, 2018. The evidence did not show actual sustained improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's right knee conditions, including strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondromalacia, instability, and scar, have been granted effective from July 6, 2012. The issues of remanding for rating actions are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings. The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities were denied. The RO determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings before November 3, 2015 and from November 3, 2015 onwards.

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

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including VA examinations to assess the current nature and severity of various conditions. The Veteran's service connection claims are not addressed as they involve direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The unstable surgical scar associated with pilonidal cyst removal is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under DC 7804. The residuals of pilonidal cyst removal other than painful/unstable scar are not compensable. The coccygectomy residuals are already rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for a TDIU are therefore denied. The initial rating for POTS is also denied.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection. The issues of diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, cornea scar, and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's painful right index finger scar was granted a 10% disability rating effective October 27, 2017.,The Veteran's laceration to the bridge of his nose and forehead was denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricability of this appeal with a separate appeal regarding severance claims. The TDIU appeal will be deferred until the adjudication of the severance claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right tibia scar, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding the etiology of pancreatic cancer and its relationship to service, including any toxic exposures. The scar related to pancreatic cancer surgery is also inextricably intertwined with the pancreatic cancer claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, but with effective dates of October 26, 2017.,No effective date earlier than October 26, 2017, was established for the grants of service connection or increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability and associated conditions do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a scar is granted.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee disability is set at January 21, 2011. The earlier requested effective date is denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability and surgical scar are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board has found that these ratings do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.,TDIU prior to June 4, 2013 is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran was unemployable due to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The issue of a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is remanded due to new evidence.