Scars decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various gynecological conditions, including ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, hysterectomy, and anemia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of sinusitis. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression), fibromyalgia, benign thyroid nodule removal with residual scar, GERD, hypertension, and hysterectomy have all been denied.,Effective dates earlier than August 29, 2002, for the grant of service connection for these conditions are not granted.

The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates as the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, specifically addressing his SI joint and iliac crest deformity. The case will also include an addendum opinion from a clinician regarding whether he requires aid and attendance due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives regarding income threshold and VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected Lisfranc's joint disruption of the left foot with surgical scar is being remanded due to concerns about the credentials of the examiner who conducted the most recent VA examination and because there are no treatment records from his incarceration period in 2023.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for status post excision left great toenail with residual deformed nail bed, or a compensable initial evaluation for scar of the left great toe.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left foot hammer toes and right foot hammer toes have been denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to establish their relationship to service.,Regarding bilateral pes planus (flatfeet) and right great toenail removal, the appeal is remanded as additional medical guidance is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for facial scarring of the nose and right eyelid, as well as a corneal scar of the right eye. The decision is based on direct evidence showing a causal relationship to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, post-traumatic headaches, and left superior frontal scalp scar are being granted effective from May 25, 2017.,Initial compensable ratings for the Veteran's TBI residuals, post-traumatic headaches, and left superior frontal scalp scar are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot and back conditions, as well as his claim for an increased rating for breast scars status post breast reduction, are not fully developed. The Veteran is advised to provide any private medical records or authorize VA to obtain them in order to support these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for various scarring conditions and knee, hip, ankle, and leg disorders due to the absence of a current disability. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has identified new evidence added to the claims file since the September 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case and has ordered that it be reviewed by the AOJ before readjudicating your claims.

The Board has ordered the VA to conduct new examinations for the appellant's right distal tibia and fibula disability and associated scar, as he failed to attend previously scheduled appointments. The claims are being remanded due to this non-compliance.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and cervical spine disabilities, as well as a need for an examination to determine the current severity of his left inguinal hernia.

The Veteran's right foot pes planus rating was restored, and he received a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus from October 16, 2019. The Veteran also received service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and his chronic lumbosacral strain was rated higher than initially granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of information on the current condition of his right eyebrow scar in the previous examination report. The case will be returned for an additional examination and report.