Scars decisions — 2023

The Veteran's initial ratings for his left palm scar and PTSD were denied. The Board found that a compensable rating was not warranted prior to June 22, 2018, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter is also not warranted. Service connection for the left wrist/arm disorder and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional development. The Board is not able to determine if a rating in excess of 20 percent is warranted for his left wrist peripheral nerve disability or if a rating in excess of 10 percent is warranted for his left wrist scars.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, gynecological conditions (infertility and miscarriages), gastrointestinal conditions, left knee condition, chronic fatigue, thyroid condition, and skin conditions have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Further examination is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased rating for his service-connected scar disability is remanded due to the need for further medical guidance on whether additional scars are related to his service-connected basal cell carcinoma and their current severity.

The Veteran's left femur condition is rated at a 30 percent since May 8, 2017. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disability and heart disabilities. However, these claims are still pending as further medical examination is needed to determine if there is a relationship between the current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's right thumb disability is granted a 10 percent rating, and the Veteran's left forearm scar is denied an increased rating. The Board has remanded for further development regarding his shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee DJD, a left knee scar, and left knee instability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the other rating claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to August 8, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TDIU due to insufficient consideration of evidence and potential changes in disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected foot and knee disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU effective May 11, 2016.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10% rating, but no higher, throughout the claim period.,Service connection for a skin condition other than chest keloid scars (pseudofolliculitis barbae) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for ectropion of the lower right eyelid was denied, and their request for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 30 percent disability rating for a lower right eyelid scar was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, head scars, and left shoulder scar as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,The Veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to support his claims of in-service injury or chronicity of symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 14, 2010, finding that her service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's topical medications stained and damaged his clothing, warranting a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015.,His left knee brace caused wear and tear on his clothing, qualifying him for a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015.,Elbow crutches used by the Veteran due to his left knee disability also caused damage to his clothing, entitling him to a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015.,The right knee brace and back brace were not service-connected disabilities at the time of the decision, thus denying entitlement to a clothing allowance for these items in 2015.,Left ankle brace did not cause damage to his clothing as determined by VA, therefore denial of a clothing allowance for this item in 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's myofibroblastic sarcoma may have been caused by his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he can perform the tasks required in sedentary employment considering his education and occupational experience.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 25, 2017 for service connection of neoplasm of the kidney. The case is remanded for further rating actions on increased ratings and scars.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates related to service connection and rating increases have been remanded.,No specific effective date has been determined as the appeal is currently in a remand status.