Scars decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis, right calf gastrocnemius strain, and right upper extremity scars with an effective date of January 29, 2020. The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the right shoulder condition and left shoulder condition.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for a compensable evaluation of eyelid scar and hernia scar, requesting to file a subsequent supplemental claim with additional evidence.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for not timely submitting a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year from the date of the mailing of an adverse decision.

The Board denied service connection for a deviated septum with obstruction of nasal passage, left nasal scar, and respiratory condition as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board granted service connection for loss of sensation in the right forearm with pins and needles and burning sensation, but denied service connection for chronic pain in the left shoulder with loss of range of motion (joint pain), chronic pain in the right groin area, a compensable evaluation for headaches, a compensable rating for the right anterior forearm scar, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied higher ratings for nose scarring, hearing loss, and tinnitus but granted a 100 percent rating for unspecified bipolar and related disorder effective August 22, 2008.

The Board granted the restoration of a 10 percent disability rating for limitation of flexion of the forearm, right elbow, and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for a right forearm scar, residual from laceration.

The appeal was dismissed as a matter of law due to the Veteran's simultaneous actions with respect to the same claim or issue within the claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection and increased rating claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including anxiety, depression, back pain, erectile dysfunction, and others, as there was no evidence of current diagnoses or symptoms reasonably associated with the disorders claimed.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lung disability, as there are conflicting findings regarding the current diagnosis.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied service connection for various other conditions, including allergies/rhinitis, right hip joint pain inflammation - range of motion condition, left lower extremity radiates / chronic foot peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity radiates / chronic foot peripheral neuropathy, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, migraine / tension headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), sinusitis, sleep apnea, and right foot inversion. The Board remanded several claims for further development.

The Board remands the claim for a left eye disability, to include refractive amblyopia from congenital astigmatism, left eye nuclear cataracts, and left eye corneal scar, for further development of evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left eye corneal scar.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) from November 5, 2008, to October 18, 2011, from January 1, 2012, to October 23, 2012, from February 1, 2013, to February 23, 2014, and from April 1, 2015, to March 10, 2024.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed all issues.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and an initial rating of 10 percent, prior to January 14, 2020, for a splenectomy scar. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a left palm scar, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The appeal for restoration of the 10 percent evaluation for anterior trunk scars was dismissed due to a claims processing error.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) solely due to service-connected persistent depressive disorder and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to an incomplete record, specifically missing treatment records from the Veteran's primary care physician.