Scars decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations and service connection for his heart disability, including a painful surgical scar of the anterior trunk, is remanded due to inconsistencies in medical records and ambiguities regarding the number and nature of scars.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and asbestosis have been denied due to the lack of current diagnoses.,Service connection has been granted for a scar on the chin associated with a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hemorrhoids, left great toe numbness, benign prostatic hyperplasia, right hand scar residuals, and others, have been denied. The appeals are based on the absence of current disabilities or evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for disfiguring right shoulder scars and a rating in excess of 10 percent for painful right shoulder scar are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the last SSOC.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 19, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a residual scar on his left axilla area and left upper extremity ulnar and median nerve neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his left finger scar alone did not render him unemployable at any point during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to February 29, 2016. The Board referred the issue of entitlement to a TDIU to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted with effective dates of August 14, 2013. The conditions are related to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran was granted an extraschedular TDIU from November 9, 2012 to December 13, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's scars to his arms are not shown to be painful, unstable, or productive of limitation of function. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for the scars on his arms is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow condition, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition. The decision also noted that his claim for a compensable rating for his right elbow scar was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and inability to arrange a VA eye examination. The Veteran's left eye disability claim is now the only issue remaining in this appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee condition was denied. The rating for cervical fracture of C4-5 status post fusion remains at 30 percent, and the ratings for right upper extremity and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy were adjusted based on new findings from November 2018 VA examination. The Veteran's duodenal ulcer condition was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the request for her Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's loss of spleen, scar, and acquired psychiatric condition were caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, a right knee disorder, headaches, GERD, IBS, and disabilities of each hand. The cases are now remanded for further examination and rating actions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hip trochanteric bursitis and gout are granted.,The Veteran's right hand disability, back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot disability are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's left leg scar is remanded.

The Veteran's death was due to an accidental drug overdose, and he was service connected for scars of the forearm and scalp, a left shoulder disability, and a left knee disability. The appellant filed for DIC benefits in September 2009, which were denied in March 2010. In May 2018, the rating decision granted DIC benefits based on newly obtained service treatment records showing the Veteran's separation examination from two months prior to his death indicated depression and suicidal ideation.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder and thoracotomy residuals and scar due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service. The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were also remanded.