Scars Board decisions

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the muscle group XVII (status post gunshot wound to the right buttock) disability from May 4, 2016. The appeal seeking earlier effective dates for service connection was dismissed.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary condition, to include asthma, lung scarring, pulmonary vascular disease, and pulmonary hypertension, as additional evidence is needed.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the bilateral fingers, a bilateral elbow disability, a left knee disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Board also denied an initial compensable rating for a lumbar spine scar (lower back scar).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for C-section surgical scar, lumbosacral strain (claimed as low back pain), and herpes simplex Type 1.

The claims are remanded to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the relevant decisions on appeal.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for colon cancer and four scars, post-colon cancer surgeries as secondary to colon cancer due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for his left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy and painful left foot scar.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lower back pain, residuals of surgery, cyst removal tailbone (pilonidal), and painful scar, gluteal cleft to correct a duty to assist error related to obtaining relevant treatment records and verifying active duty and inactive duty training dates.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected colon cancer, neuropathy of both lower extremities, and residual scars status post colon cancer.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and a compensable rating for tinnitus, but granted service connection for a right testicular condition secondary to the Veteran's status post inguinal hernia repair.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for corneal abrasion of the right eye, hemorrhoids, and hypertension. A 10 percent rating was granted for scar, buttocks, residual of pilonidal cyst.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for tinnitus, back scar, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy. However, a 50 percent rating was granted for the right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for right lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, and for right ear hearing loss. The Board also granted initial ratings of 10 percent for a right big toe scar and 20 percent for residuals of a right foot injury with recurrent ingrown toenail infections.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability, left clavicle disability, scar of the left clavicle, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (skin) disability, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability, scars from an operation on the lower back as secondary to a lower back condition, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to a lower back disability due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection and an earlier effective date to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for issuance of a statement of the case under the legacy appeal system.

The Board granted service connection for a respiratory disability but dismissed appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various other conditions.

The Board granted a reinstatement of the 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability, effective November 1, 2022. The Board also granted an increased evaluation to 20 percent for left hand radial digital nerve impairment based on moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, PTSD with TBI, chronic lumbar sprain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and scars.

The appeal for service connection and effective date issues was dismissed as the claims were addressed by a separate decision.