Scars Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for post injury scars, finding it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current scarring is related to his service.

The Veteran's total left hip replacement stress fracture with surgical repair and left leg muscle atrophy was granted a 70 percent rating, but no higher. Other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for asbestosis with obstructive sleep apnea, granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee disabilities, but granted a 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left upper arm scar and remanded the claim for a new examination to evaluate the severity of his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's cancer residuals were granted a 30 percent rating effective September 1, 2022. The claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for anterior abdominal wall scars were denied.

The Board granted an effective date of August 24, 2009, for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine, left lower extremity mild sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity mild sciatic radiculopathy. An earlier effective date was denied for the scar associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and higher ratings due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder from January 24, 2013 to September 6, 2016, but an increased rating of more than 100 percent is not available as a matter of law.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the anterior neck scar and denied an effective date earlier than April 2, 2015, for the grant of service connection.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected scar on the left breast due to one painful scar, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist disability.

The Board granted service connection for facial scars, finding that the Veteran's current facial scars began during active service.

The Board remands the claims for higher disability evaluations for post pneumonia lung scarring and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as a TDIU claim, due to incomplete records from the Veteran's primary care physician and outstanding VA treatment records.

The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for constrictive bronchiolitis and lung scarring is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary surgical scars, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating under applicable criteria.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for sleep disturbances, a rating in excess of 30 percent for right nephrectomy, and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate for further development.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with sciatica of the legs, effective September 1, 2012. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and amputation of the distal right ring finger were denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for various shell fragment wound residuals, finding the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA, as there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran was unemployable prior to August 4, 2020, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for increased disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions was dismissed due to a untimely Notice of Disagreement.