Scars Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, residuals of brain aneurysm, seizure disorder, migraine headaches, scar over left eye, and surgical scar on top of head are not supported by evidence. The Board finds that there is no current medical opinion linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

An effective date earlier than August 22, 2015, for the award of service connection for RLE radiculopathy is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 29, 2018, for the award of service connection for LLE radiculopathy is denied.,A grant of service connection for surgical scars, status post right knee meniscectomy with an effective date of February 23, 2013, but no earlier, was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a ventral hernia and residual painful surgical scar, as well as Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The effective date for all these awards was set at August 30, 2018.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for non-tender scar as secondary to heel callus with fissures, left foot and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for heel callus with fissures, right foot have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the January 2020 VA examination and opinion are inadequate, as they did not address whether the Veteran's current eye conditions are related to his in-service surgery. The claim is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her residual scar and left knee disability. The case is being remanded to evaluate the severity of her left knee disability, including any residuals from total knee replacement.

The Veteran's painful scars of the feet, which were assigned a 30 percent rating for more than five years, could be subject to temporary or episodic improvement. The rating reduction was based on one examination without evidence clearly demonstrating sustained improvement in the Veteran's condition or ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, and the Board found that no earlier effective dates could be granted due to continuous pursuit of the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for his left knee scar has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of unstable or painful scars, and therefore, no compensable rating could be assigned under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for macular atrophy bilateral and macular scar should be remanded to obtain clarification on whether these conditions are congenital or developmental defects, and if so, whether they were aggravated by service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee arthroscopic surgery for meniscal tear, painful scars, and surgical scars with effective dates starting from February 5, 2020.

The Veteran's right leg scar is rated at 0 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7802.,The Veteran's tonsillectomy residuals are currently rated at 0 percent. The evidence does not demonstrate hoarseness or inflammation of cords or mucous membrane.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 3, 2021. After that date, his combined permanent and total schedular rating does not allow for additional TDIU benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle peripheral edema and bilateral knee scars due to a lack of a VA examination, which is necessary to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected throat cancer and its residuals have been granted effective from March 12, 2010. The Board has also granted earlier effective dates for several other disabilities including obstructive sleep apnea, urinary frequency, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, facial numbness and nerve impingement, and surgical scars.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining all available VA treatment records and seeking medical opinions regarding whether service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's scars on the head due to pseudofolliculitis barbae are rated at 50 percent, which is more than the initially assigned 30 percent rating. The Board found that the evidence of record supports this increased evaluation based on the presence of five characteristics of disfigurement.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and right ear hearing loss. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his head scar and for service connection for his lower back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for basal cell carcinoma with scars is being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the prior decision.