Scars decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the Veteran is requested to provide more recent medical evidence supporting their claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for scars of the abdomen was granted on August 8, 2003, which is considered the earliest possible effective date under VA regulations. The appeal to have an earlier effective date denied.

The Board has remanded multiple cases related to increased ratings and effective dates for various conditions, including a right foot heel fracture, an acquired psychiatric disorder, dermatitis with scarring, degenerative arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, distal phalanx fractures, scars from the knee and thumb, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals also include requests for earlier effective dates for service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal regarding the issues of increased evaluations for service-connected left hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, limitation of extension, right hip condition, limitation of abduction, left lower extremity scar, left hip, and for entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot condition.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for scars and the proposals to reduce his lung cancer disability rating from 100% to 10%, and to discontinue SMC based on housebound status are all denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his scar of the left shoulder was dismissed.,His claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability, which resulted in malunion of the humerus with marked deformity and recurrent dislocations, is denied.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the Veteran's right hip and leg disabilities, finding that no additional disability was caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar fault on part of VA.

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance and housebound status have been denied as there is no evidence of a single service-connected disability rated at 100% or substantial confinement to his dwelling.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee, nasal, jaw, and foot disabilities are granted. The claim for bilateral pes planus is also granted on the basis that it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are being remanded due to the failure of VA to obtain all available VA treatment records since November 2021.

The Board denied service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and its scar residuals, finding no current disability or in-service injury/disease relevant to such disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone meets the criteria for a single disability rated at 100 percent, and his other disabilities combine to meet or exceed a 60 percent rating. Therefore, SMC at the housebound rate is granted from December 2, 2019, to May 23, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to March 3, 2023, for service connection of radiculopathy in the right and left lower extremities (femoral nerves) have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 3, 2023, for service connection of left thigh scars associated with painful left thigh scar has also been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and any new evidence submitted after the May 2022 decision will be considered by the AOJ in the adjudication of this claim.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to service connection and increased disability ratings, including those for PTSD, right shoulder strain, right ankle tendinosis, facial scarring due to PFB, eczema, bilateral hearing loss, chronic left wrist disability, left ankle sprain, and bilateral eye conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to a muscle injury, left shoulder tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain is dismissed. Service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, cancer of the lymph nodes secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, hypothyroidism secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, and a scar of the right neck secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is granted. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic scars of the lower lip.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for service connection of left lower extremity scar was granted, with the effective date set at October 16, 2018.,A 10 percent rating is now in effect since January 29, 2013, for painful scar, residual of left foot bunionectomy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of atrial fibrillation, hypertension, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a surgical bypass scar were denied. The effective date for the grant of a 30 percent rating for atrial fibrillation was not earlier than May 1, 2020.,Compensable ratings for hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied. A compensable rating for the surgical bypass scar was not granted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined service-connected disability rating did not meet the threshold for a TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeals of entitlement to increased disability ratings, initial compensable ratings, and initial disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, chronic rhinitis, and headaches. The appeal of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and left thumb scar was also dismissed.