Scars decisions — 2023

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to address inconsistencies in the Veteran's right wrist and knee disability ratings, as well as a remand for consideration of TDIU prior to January 19, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 27, 2019 and from April 1, 2020 to May 27, 2020. The Board denied the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease status post bypass grafting with scar was granted a rating of 60 percent prior to March 15, 2012 and a 100 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence supported these ratings based on the criteria for evaluating coronary artery disease.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from March 1, 2013, due to his service-connected status post prostatectomy.,SMC at the housebound rate was also granted for the period from July 2, 2017, to January 31, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and retrospective opinions regarding flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of the appropriate rating(s) to be assigned for the left total knee replacement performed in April 2019 pursuant to the rating criteria under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left eye scar, secondary to toxoplasmosis, due to incomplete development and lack of an updated examination. The issue is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to October 1, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity cellulitis and painful scars in the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's scar left forearm status post human bite, finding that the evidence did not support an increase in disability due to lack of underlying soft tissue damage or nerve dysfunction.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development. The Veteran's abdominal surgery residuals and acne scarring of the head, neck, and face need to be evaluated again with consideration given to any flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA medical records and further examination is needed to determine if he has any acquired psychiatric disorders, head injury residuals, scarring at the head, bilateral eye disorders, or a low back disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to her service-connected disabilities, is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's facial acne with scarring is granted a higher initial disability rating of 30% from October 8, 2010. The residuals of the right hand fracture are denied any compensable initial disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected lipoma residual scar of the upper back is rated at 10 percent disabling, and his combined rating does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on schedular or extraschedular standards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that he failed to report for VA examinations and his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck condition due to the lack of in-service diagnosis and no link to service.

The Board granted a separate, additional 30 percent rating for loss of part of the nose with a disfiguring scar associated with the Veteran's already service-connected deviated nasal septum and status post nasal fracture.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the terms of its previous remand instructions. Further remand is necessary to obtain all VA treatment records from 1999 to the present and to verify the Veteran's alleged service in the Republic of Vietnam.