Scars decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left inguinal hernia scar is granted a 10 percent rating, effective from December 28, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the propriety of a separate rating for painful rectal scarring, which was assigned as 10 percent disabling as of January 14, 2021, has been dismissed.

The appellant's appeals for increased disability ratings and earlier effective dates for his right hand conditions have been dismissed due to the concurrent election of review.

The Veteran's hypertension, lung cancer, trunk scars, and PTSD have been granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Vietnam. The PACT Act has added hypertension to the list of presumptive diseases.,Service connection for lung cancer is granted based on the presumption of herbicide agent exposure and the Veteran's current diagnosis.

The Veteran's GERD has been granted a 30 percent rating, but not higher. The left shoulder scar remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's lung condition, including a lung nodule and bilateral lobe post-inflammatory scarring, is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service, specifically asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his pre-existing hearing loss did not increase in severity during active service.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hernia scar is denied due to the lack of evidence showing that the condition worsened beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, fibromyalgia, and sleep apnea, were granted effective August 18, 2015. The Board also found that the Veteran could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to PTSD from May 8, 2018, to February 29, 2020.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent from March 31, 2021 onwards. The effective date for the award of service connection for his lower extremity radiculopathies and painful scar are September 2, 2020 and January 23, 2020 respectively.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are not met.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's initial claim for a hernia, inguinal was granted with an initial rating of 10 percent.,A scar in the right inguinal region is rated at 10 percent under DC 7804 due to pain.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The tinnitus and psoriasis with scarring are rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, while the acquired psychiatric disorder is not rated higher due to a lack of evidence showing impairment beyond what is already covered by the current rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding the proposed severance of service connection for painful scars on both feet as they were not ripe for appeal due to the lack of a final decision from VA.