Scars Board decisions

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's status post basal cell cancer with squamous cell cancer with residual scarring of the face and neck from June 15, 2023, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent and 30 percent at other times.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and other skin conditions, as well as earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and increased ratings for idiopathic rash and associated scarring, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and denied increased ratings for right femur limitation of flexion, right femur limitation of extension, and right knee disability. However, the Board granted a 10 percent rating for right femur limitation of rotation, a 10 percent rating for scar based on characteristics disfigurement (right upper eyelid), and a 10 percent rating for painful scar on the right upper eyelid.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, finding that June 29, 2021, was the earliest possible date of claim.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis, but denied earlier effective dates and increased ratings for the other conditions.

The Board granted an effective date of February 16, 2018, for the award of service connection for linear umbilical scar and left chest scar, but denied earlier effective dates for colon cancer and other conditions.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for multiple residual scars due to left inguinal hernia repair, left carpal tunnel release, and left knee surgeries.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for neck injury scars, hernia, and hernia residual scars as secondary to hernia injury. The claims were denied due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for facial scars and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal as an impermissible concurrent review election under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for a bridge of nose scar and acne, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a rating in excess of 10 percent for type II diabetes mellitus, as well as a rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a compensable rating for a neck scar.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scars, right arm and hernia repair due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied a rating more than 10 percent for tender/painful bilateral femur scars and remanded issues related to the right hip disability, skin disability, psychiatric disorder, and alcohol use disorder.

The Board remands the claims for initial compensable evaluations of genital warts and scars for adequate VA examinations.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for amputation and scarring of the left ring finger due to an inadequate examination.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for acne keloidalis nuchae with baldness and scarring alopecia, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for other aspects of skin disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, as well as a reopened claim for tinnitus, among other issues.

The Board denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss but granted a 30 percent rating for lichen planus, urticaria with scars from August 13, 2018. TDIU was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, RLE radicular pain, sinusitis, and an increased rating for PTSD. The claims for service connection for DM II, ED, headaches, left thumb disability and scar, right thumb, increased ratings for rhinitis, IBS with GERD, and OSA with bronchitis were remanded.