Scars decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and back conditions, precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to July 9, 2018.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and a right breast scar. The claims for left wrist cyst and right wrist surgery residuals are remanded due to incomplete records. The claim for headaches is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to new evidence indicating possible increases in his service-connected conditions. The cases are being remanded for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's skin tissue salvage scar is not compensably rated, and his TDIU claim prior to August 8, 2023 is granted. His TDIU from August 8, 2023 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed as withdrawn. The claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, left shoulder arthralgia, right shoulder arthralgia, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis are remanded.

The claim for left leg scar(s) is reopened and service connection is granted. The claim for a left knee condition is granted.,The claim for periodontal disease remains pending as it has been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected painful surgical scars in the distal aspect of both left and right third metatarsals have been granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent, effective from May 26, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee and hip disabilities, as well as scars of the extremities and trunk due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from August 30, 2016 to October 6, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to January 30, 2018 for the grant of service connection for a scar disability is denied. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than January 30, 2018 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for heart disability prior to January 30, 2018 is denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected scar disability is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for cystic acne and its residuals, to include scarring, is granted. The Veteran's pre-existing condition was not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 6, 2017, for service connection of left knee instability and scar are denied. The reduction of disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent for left knee disability is remanded. Other issues related to the left knee disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and evaluation of his claims, including verification of toxic exposure and provision of medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and a brain tumor (claimed as meningioma to include scarring) are both granted due to the established link between their conditions and his military service, with particular emphasis on exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a compensable rating for scar status post varicocele and bilateral hearing loss. The claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction with sterility and residuals of an in-service varcocele surgery are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for head injury, head scar, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial in June 2013. The claims are being reopened but not decided on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability has been withdrawn.,The claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and lumbar radiculopathy have been dismissed as moot due to the maximum schedular ratings being assigned.,The Veteran was granted compensable disability ratings (20%) for scars on both hands, effective February 15, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the earliest date of reinstatement was January 31, 2012, which is not applicable to his August 29, 2018 claim.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, painful surgical scars of the right lower extremity, residual scar of the right lower extremity, right ankle status post-surgery, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, and right inguinal hernia. The issues are remanded for further development.