Scars Board decisions

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of eczema and left forearm scars, as well as increased ratings for eczema and a compensable rating for the left forearm scars.

The Board denied an effective date prior to June 12, 2021 for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for schizoaffective disorder bipolar type and denied effective dates prior to June 12, 2021 for service connection for right knee instability and painful scars on the right lower extremity. However, it granted an effective date of August 24, 2020 but no earlier for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's service connection for generalized anxiety disorder was granted, while several other claims for increased ratings were denied. A 10 percent rating was also granted for certain scars starting from September 24, 2021.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's surgical scar residuals of the left thumb as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, as the evidence did not support a current disability or a link to active service. The claims for lumbar spine condition, nose scar, and right-ear scar were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's keloid scar residuals, specifically during a flare-up if possible.

The Board grants service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, posterior neck scar, neurological impairments of all extremities, hypopharyngeal mucosa laceration with residual dysphagia and esophagus dysfunction, neurogenic bowel dysfunction, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction, as secondary to service-connected spinal disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, status post dual chamber ICD placement residual scar, type II diabetes mellitus, and hypertension with an effective date of October 29, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for right cervical radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability, but denied service connection for a scar on the forehead and remanded issues related to left hip, right hip, and foot disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a back scar. The claims for hearing loss, headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and restless leg syndrome (RLS) were denied.

The Board denied service connection for elevated blood pressure and noncompensable evaluations for various scars and conditions, as the evidence did not support a current disability or sufficient symptoms to warrant a compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for back disability, neck disability, anemia, right shoulder impingement and degenerative arthritis, back scars, stenosis and facet joint hypertrophy of the lumbar spine and chronic thoracic myalgia, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and a 10 percent rating for GERD, effective May 19, 2024.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent disability rating, but no higher, for the Veteran's scar, left thigh s/p skin graft with underlying tissue damage associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil. The claim for a compensable disability evaluation for the same condition was denied.

The Board granted an effective date of August 21, 2013, for a separate rating for the right hip surgical scar and denied earlier effective dates for service connection for left hip iliopsoas bursitis with tendinosis and right foot plantar fasciitis.

The Board dismissed the appeals for proposed rating reductions and denied higher ratings for leg compartment syndrome and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and an initial 40 percent rating for IVDS, while denying higher ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities, a residual scar, and bilateral foot disability. The effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was also granted.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss but granted a 10 percent rating for a surgical scar of the left ear.

The Board denied an increased rating for the left ear scar and granted a separate 10 percent rating for pain, while denying service connection for several conditions including left hamstring strain.

The appeals for an increased rating and earlier effective date for residual surgical scars were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.