Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability has been granted and rendered moot. The claims for compensable ratings for chronic rhinitis and right shoulder surgical scars have been denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including carcinoid syndrome, scar, gout, and a mental health condition. The effective dates for these claims are not yet determined as the appeals are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to March 26, 2020. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set at December 11, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD, OSA to include asthma, IBS with GERD status post Boerhaave syndrome with scar and s/p cholecystectomy, and chronic lumbar syndrome with degeneration of L5-S1 and anterolisthesis at L5 are all denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology is not established. Service connection for these conditions was denied.,The Veteran has not reported continuous symptoms of tinnitus since active duty service or within one year of his discharge from active duty service. The evidence of record persuasively weighs against finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to active duty service. Service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right forearm scarring, finding that there is at least an equipoise of evidence regarding whether the condition had its onset during active duty. The Veteran's current disability and in-service diagnosis are supported by his statements and medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of pseudofolliculitis barbae scarring, finding that continuous pursuit of the claim was broken due to non-receipt of rating decisions and failure to timely file AMA review options. The decision also noted that the September 2019 rating decision was not considered as it was returned undeliverable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for any of the claimed conditions and thus, service connection is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating of the scar of right lateral neck, which is currently rated at 10%. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service and concluding that any additional disability was not caused by VA care.

The Veteran's bilateral Achilles scars are not found to be compensable as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7802.,The Veteran's scars secondary to bulbourethral stricture are also not found to be compensable as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7805.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, which grants entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at a housebound rate is moot due to the grant of aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sleep apnea, asthma, and right lung granulomatous disease have been dismissed. The Veteran's bilateral hip disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome have been granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hand arthritis has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher disability rating and an earlier effective date were dismissed as they are duplicative of previous decisions.

The Veteran's scars are rated as noncompensable, but a 10 percent rating is granted for painful left inguinal hernia scar.

The Board has denied service connection for left hip, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim of service connection for left eye blindness is being remanded.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right eye corneal scar results in visual acuity of 20/40 or better, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was restored to 20 percent, effective February 24, 2020. The Veteran's depressive disorder and scars were all granted increased ratings.