Scars Board decisions

The appeal seeking an effective date prior to September 22, 2022, for the grants of service connection for scalp disfigurement, a painful scalp scar, and folliculitis decalvans with alopecia is dismissed.

The appeal for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed, and the claims for increased evaluations of GERD and scars post esophagectomy were denied or remanded.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for several conditions, granted a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and an effective date of August 10, 2023, for the left elbow impairment of supination and pronation.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed as it has been granted in a separate decision. The claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for facial scars associated with pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied.

The Veteran was granted an initial 100 percent rating for PTSD with TBI prior to September 20, 2023, and SMC at the housebound rate prior to that date. The claims for service connection for various conditions were remanded.

The appeal for service connection for psoriatic arthritis, a back disability, and a migraine disability was dismissed as untimely filed. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for scarring from psoriasis and the claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for psoriasis with residual scars were denied.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the left side chin scar, but denied initial compensable and higher ratings for the LLE scar and LLE radiculopathy respectively.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma with scar, left frontal scalp as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the condition and the Veteran's service, including conceded herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis and denied ratings higher than 30 percent for residuals scarring of the thighs. However, it granted a separate 10 percent rating for patellofemoral complex instability.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for facial scars, right foot disability, and left foot disability as further evidence is needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease, as there was no evidence of direct or presumed exposure to herbicide agents prior to the enactment of the PACT Act on August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 15, 2022, for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for painful scar pilonidal cyst residuals was granted, while claims for increased ratings and compensable evaluation were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for ankylosis of the right thumb with degenerative arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and surgical scar of the right thumb.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, to include residuals of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, and denied a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 5, 2023, and a rating in excess of 30 percent from June 5, 2023, for scars, neck and left cheek, associated with pseudofolliculitis barbae. However, the Board granted service connection for a left second digit scar with pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a 10 percent rating based on multiple, non-compensable, service-connected disabilities due to a clear and unmistakable error in a January 1997 rating decision.

The Board granted service connection for a scar of the left index finger and partial loss of sensation of the left index finger, finding that these conditions are related to an in-service knife laceration injury.

The Board granted service connection for a scar on the veteran's head, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The claim for service connection for a left knee condition (to include patellofemoral syndrome and DJD) is remanded for readjudication, as new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim.