Scars decisions — 2023

The Veteran's left knee disability claims are being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to address the severity of his symptoms, including during flare-ups. The Veteran also has a separate claim for residuals of a quadriceps muscle tear which needs further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and a right knee condition, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of a left eyebrow scar, right ear hearing loss disability, and low back disability due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including his scar claim, knee conditions, erectile dysfunction, and psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a traumatic brain injury with headaches.

The Veteran's left knee impairment is granted as secondary to his right knee condition, effective March 31, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for OSA, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a right forearm laceration scar have been granted. However, his claim for hypertension has not met the criteria for service connection.

The Board dismissed the issues of entitlement to a rating greater than 10 percent disabling for squamous cell carcinoma surgery residual scars, entitlement to a compensable rating for squamous cell carcinoma, right pyriform sinus, status post neck dissection, and entitlement to a compensable rating for lymph node carcinoma metastasis, status post radical neck dissection due to the Veteran not filing a timely substantive appeal.

The Veteran was granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from May 7, 2010, to March 31, 2013, due to the combined effects of service-connected disabilities preventing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle disorder and scar residual of pruritis subcutaneous nodules was denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for a new examination to determine its current severity. The SMC claim is also being remanded as it may be impacted by the development of his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of chin scar is denied as there is no evidence of additional disability caused by VA care.

The Board has found that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran was also requested to provide information about any correctional facility where he was incarcerated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to an effective date of March 31, 2001 for service connection of his hidradenitis surgery scars associated with PFB. The issues of rating and SMC are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability is dismissed. The extension of a temporary total rating beyond October 1, 2018, based on a period of convalescence for service-connected back disability is denied. The Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and compensation for various conditions, including PTSD, corneal retinal scar, ulna fracture, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board dismissed the appeal as these issues were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received for the claim of entitlement to service connection for lower left leg lipoma. The Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, corneal scar of the left eye, lichen planus, PTSD, and TDIU are remanded due to receipt of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his disabilities are not so exceptional that it renders application of the regular schedular ratings impractical. Therefore, entitlement to TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable rating for a left palm scar and service connection for a left knee disorder due to additional relevant evidence being associated with the file after the April 2018 Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, DDD of the lumbar spine, IVDS, and various knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 9, 2018.