Scars Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for vertigo and remanded the claim for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) with residual scars due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for paresthesia of a right index finger injury and a linear distal right index finger scar as secondary to the in-service injury.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left chest wall, entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for scars, left chest wall, and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for further development.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, left leg disability (meralgia paresthetica and radiculopathy), left eye disability (cataracts, other than scar), cardiac disability, and cervical spine disability.

The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for the service-connected heart disability from July 1, 2020 to March 3, 2023 and denied evaluations in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, 10 percent for tinnitus, and no compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for TDIU based solely on the service-connected heart disability was dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for gastroenteritis, myopia, and non-compensable ratings for tinea unguium and scar. The eye disability claim was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an effective date of February 22, 2020, but denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, a compensable initial disability rating for hypertension, and a compensable disability rating for a right hand scar (painful).

The Veteran's claim for benefits under the Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) program to remodel the entrance of his home, including railings on both sides and replacement of carpet, was granted.

The Board denied service connection for left eye blindness with scarring as the evidence did not support an in-service injury or event that caused the condition.

The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance, as well as service connection and earlier effective dates for certain conditions, while denying increased ratings and earlier effective dates for others.

The appeals for service connection and initial rating were dismissed due to untimely filings of the necessary forms within one year after notification.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for residuals of a right hand injury, to include a scar, as it is unclear whether all STRs from Brawdy, Wales, RAB have been obtained and an examination has not yet been conducted.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a 70% rating for depressive disorder and bilateral foot disorders, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 30, 2019.

The Veteran's PFB is granted a greater 60 percent rating, while other conditions such as eczema scarring, erectile dysfunction, IBS, and migraine headaches are denied higher ratings. Service connection for stroke from burn pit exposure and damaged liver is also denied.

The appeal was dismissed for the proposed reduction of the evaluation rating, but service connection was granted for a left hip condition and its associated scar.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for total right hip arthropathy and service connection for a back disorder, to include a lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to September 1, 2022 for the ratings of radiculopathy and a painful scar were denied as there was no evidence supporting an earlier date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for abdominal scars as they are not deep, do not have an area of at least 39 square centimeters, are not unstable or painful, and do not result in any disabling effects.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected nephropathy with hypertension, DM II, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, and CAD. However, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was granted.