Scars Board decisions

The Board denied increased ratings for chronic lumbosacral strain, irritable bowel syndrome, PTSD with alcohol and cannabis use disorder, right knee degenerative joint disease, and right lower extremity scar. However, service connection was granted for asthma.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded several other claims, including those for lung nodules with COPD, coronary artery disease, back scars, low back disability, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date as it failed to consider new and material evidence submitted within one year of a July 2011 rating decision.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's conditions, including residuals of laryngeal cancer with dysphonia and scars associated with it.

The Board granted compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability resulting from VA treatment, to include chronic ear infections and a moderate-sized right ear drum perforation with associated scarring.

The appeal was granted for the severance of service connection for deviated nasal septum, which was found to be improper.

The Board granted an effective date of August 31, 2010 for the award of service connection for an anterior trunk scar and denied higher ratings for CAD and a sternum scar. The decision also remanded several claims related to earlier effective dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence of current hearing loss or disabling scars, and that her plantar fasciitis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and granted an initial evaluation of 19 percent, but no higher, for lip strain with scar. The decision also granted a rating in excess of 30 percent disabling for post-traumatic headaches prior to February 21, 2017, and denied a rating in excess of 70 percent disabling for TBI from October 24, 2023.

The Board granted an effective date of March 31, 2016, for the award of TDIU based on a finding that the Veteran detrimentally relied on misleading VA communications.

The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable rating for actinic keratosis and scalp scars due to new evidence that was not available during the previous VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder and an initial 10 percent rating for a scar of the left upper extremity associated with left wrist ganglion cyst.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but denied higher ratings and separate ratings for other knee and thumb disabilities.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and service connection, including for allergic rhinitis, bladder condition, COPD, sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches, PTSD with alcohol use disorder, and hypertension.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for residuals of traumatic brain injury with vertigo and 30 percent for migraine headaches, while denying a compensable rating for right orbital bone status post blowout fracture and a higher rating for tinnitus.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae and upper lip scar disabilities to obtain complete medical examinations and adequate opinions for rating purposes.

The Board granted service connection for LEFT 4th toe amputations and a 'painful' post-surgical LEFT foot dorsum scar as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a LEFT ankle sprain with degenerative changes and Achilles' tendonitis, restored the 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected LEFT ankle disability, and granted an additional 10 percent rating for degenerative changes of the LEFT foot.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae with residual scarring, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board remands the claims for a higher disability rating for posterior gunshot wounds involving muscle group XX, and for compensable ratings for residual scars from posterior gunshot wounds and a right upper buttock gunshot wound scar due to deficiencies in the record.

The appeal of the finding of a duty to assist (DTA) error during higher-level review (HLR) for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the February 26, 2024 VA letter informing the Veteran that he must use the proper Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) form for readjudication of his claim of entitlement to service connection for sinusitis were dismissed. The appeal of service connection for sinusitis and spine-related paresthesia was denied, while claims for other conditions were remanded.