Scars Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for compensation related to miscarriages/stillborn births, as he understood there was no available benefit.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for status post ventral hernioplasty but denied higher initial and compensable ratings for the painful, stable linear scar to midline supraumbilical status post hernioplasty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, painful scar status post left IHR, and left knee strain.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spondylolisthesis and bilateral ankle dermatitis, restored the ratings for left knee limitation of extension, left ankle degenerative joint disease (DJD), and right ankle DJD, and denied service connection for sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a right 5th finger scar, increased ratings for left knee flexion and extension, and rhinitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lung tumor resulting in right partial lobectomy and surgical scars as secondary to this condition due to duty-to-assist errors, including an inadequate VA opinion and unverified asbestos exposure.

The Board granted service connection for insomnia and remanded claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer (secondary to GERD and Barrett's esophagus), and surgical scars from an esophagectomy (secondary to the now service-connected esophageal cancer).

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's scar, lumbosacral spine and remanded other issues due to a need for further development.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and a new VA opinion addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding service connection.

The Board granted service connection for a right wrist disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The claims for a right knee disability, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition were denied.

The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for spondylolisthesis, right leg radiculopathy, posterior trunk scars, painful scar, posterior midline spine, and anterior trunk scar.

The Board remands the claim for a compensable disability rating for the service-connected scars of the left hip due to an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to June 11, 2012, for the award of a 10 percent rating for scar, dorsal aspect of right hand was dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae and scar, posterior scalp as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board granted service connection for pruritus of the bilateral forearms and squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinomas of the head and face, status post excision, residual scars of right jaw and left cheek (claimed as squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinomas of the head and face, seborrheic keratoses: face and scalp), but denied a compensable evaluation for the latter condition from August 10, 2022.

The Board denied ratings greater than 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy, knee strain, status post osteotomy of right second metatarsal, and surgical scars due to a finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, as well as housebound status.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, except for a 20 percent rating granted for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy femoral nerve.

The Board denied service connection for face and neck scars, left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), but granted a 10 percent rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory condition and a condition manifested by bilateral shin pain.