Scars Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including residuals of fragment wounds left thigh and both buttocks with retained metallic fragments, right lower extremity scar, left lower extremity scars, painful fragment wound scars, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), ischemic heart disease, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and hypertension.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 11, 2021, for the grant of individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation based on persistent depressive disorder.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for further development, including obtaining any outstanding relevant records and a medical opinion regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches was granted, allowing an earlier effective date of March 21, 1997.

The Board denied service connection for TMJ disorder, bilateral hearing loss, abrasion of the left cornea, and bilateral myopia. However, it granted a 100 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder with PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection for impairment of rectal sphincter control and anterior trunk scar painful, as the persuasive weight of the evidence does not support that these disabilities arose prior to May 10, 2022.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was dismissed, and several other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for the Veteran's residual scar of ruptured tympanic membrane, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal, and there are no specific errors of fact or law for appellate consideration.

The Veteran's right breast cancer and right breast partial mastectomy scars were granted increased ratings to 30 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the decision on appeal.

The Board denied increased ratings for several conditions but granted initial 20% evaluations for left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, femoral nerve, from October 31, 2019, to October 5, 2022, and granted a TDIU.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right lateral epicondylitis and right elbow surgical scar, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.

The Veteran is granted an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment due to the permanent loss of use of his feet and functional equivalent of right hip ankylosis resulting from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a separate disability rating of 30 percent for patellar instability effective February 2, 2022. The claim for an initial compensable rating for right lower extremity scar is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left foot hallux valgus/hallux rigidus and a compensable rating for linear left foot 1st metatarsal head scar, residual of fusion with screw and plate placement surgery associated with left foot hallux valgus/hallux rigidus.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a sexually transmitted disease, denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for pseudofolliculitis barbae and seborrheic dermatitis, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board granted ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis and instability based on limited flexion and extension, as well as a rating of 10 percent for right and left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis and instability based on patellar instability from August 4, 2023, to April 11, 2024. The claims for increased ratings for acne and scars of the posterior trunk were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left foot scar with underlying soft tissue damage as the evidence did not support an area of at least 6 square inches (39 sq. cm.) but less than 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.).