Scars decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, upper back and lower surgical scars, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the LLE were granted effective March 17, 2021. The Board denied earlier effective dates as there was no evidence to support such.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of aggravation or secondary service connection, and that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness for allergic rhinitis and appendectomy residuals.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria is being remanded due to the inextricability with other issues.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee disability and bilateral knee scars are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for left kidney cancer and scar, anterior trunk are remanded due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his left ankle multiple surgical scars and has remanded the issue of service connection for his right hip disability.

The Veteran's PTSD and right hand conditions are rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines, with no further increases granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his service connection claims for hypertension and a right hip condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran should be provided with VA medical opinions to address the etiology of his right hip condition and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 30 percent evaluation for service-connected surgical scar anterior neck is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 50 percent evaluation for service-connected PTSD including claimed insomnia is also denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted service connection. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, subluxation status post meniscectomy, and scars are denied.

The Board has remanded several issues, including rating for scars and service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to outstanding records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for facial scarring, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a surgical head scar due to a suboccipital craniotomy for tumor resection of right cerebellar hemangioblastoma and obstructive sleep apnea are denied as there is no competent evidence in favor of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial disability ratings and effective dates were dismissed due to his death. The claims related to PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right posterior iliac fracture with residuals, scar from a previous injury, lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU/DEA benefits have been dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's left foot and heel pain, along with peripheral neuropathy, are now rated at 30 percent each.,Posterior and lateral left heel scars do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right index finger residuals of a retained metallic foreign body and right index finger scar were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and reduction of his evaluation for chorioretinal scars with other retinal detachments have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn their appeal.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for a compensable disability rating for his right inguinal hernia and surgical abdominal scars, finding that the evidence does not support ratings higher than noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Unemployability (TDIU) effective from May 28, 2020.

The Veteran's left lower extremity scars were granted a 20 percent evaluation beginning March 17, 2020. Prior to this date, the scars did not meet criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his abdominal scar is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.