Scars decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right elbow scar, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, and bilateral keratoconus were denied. The initial compensable rating for residual scars status post hernia repair and colon resection was denied, as well as the increased rating for residual painful scar status post hernia repair and colon resection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, adjustment disorder with anxiety, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and other conditions were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate 20 percent rating for her right knee meniscal tear from September 25, 2019. Other increased ratings were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding her left foot condition and right foot conditions, as well as a lack of updated VA treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for her left foot condition and scar, which she contends are related to her right foot condition.

The Veteran's asbestosis with residual mild restrictive lung disease and left lateral mid back and left flank scars have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 25, 2009.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding earlier effective dates and increased ratings for pancreatic necrosis and surgical scars, so the cases are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, so his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Veteran's claims for astigmatism, left shin splint, right shin splint, recurrent right hamstring strain, umbilical keloid scar, and hidradenitis suppurativa have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection in each case.,Service connection was denied because the Veteran's astigmatism is a congenital defect, not an injury or disease incurred during service. Her left shin splint, right shin splint, and recurrent right hamstring strain were not shown to be related to service. The umbilical keloid scar preexisted service and did not worsen during service. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a post-service condition unrelated to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected right knee scar, and the Board dismissed the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification from a VA examiner regarding the nature and cause of the Veteran's left eye condition(s). Specifically, they need to determine if the Veteran had exotropia in his left eye or a scar on his left cornea during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for scars, status post surgery for lung cancer and COPD. The VA Regional Office needs to obtain a medical examination and provide further development.

The Board has granted a noncompensable rating for the surgical scar of the anterior left big toe and a 10 percent rating for the painful surgical scar of the same area, both effective October 31, 2018.

The Veteran's right wrist scar is rated at 10 percent, and no higher. The initial rating for his limitation of motion of the wrist remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence or incomplete examinations. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for his left knee scars, insomnia, or instability of the left knee. Service connection for chronic left shoulder pain and chronic left ankle pain remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the criteria for TDIU have not been met.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and upper torso scar have been granted service connection. The low back disorder, left knee disorder, and left foot/heel disorder are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine scar associated with cervical spondylosis is rated at 10 percent, the minimum compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7800 for scars of the head, face, or neck.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 7, 2017, for service connection for prostate cancer status post RALP was denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his prostatectomy scars received on the same day (December 7, 2017) was granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as his PTSD alone already meets the criteria for a 100% schedular disability rating. The SMC claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities meeting the requirements of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).