Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various conditions, including breast cancer and its residuals, thyroidectomy, left bicep scar (malignant melanoma), and basal cell carcinoma. The claims are based on the Veteran's alleged exposure to pesticides at Fort McClellan and malathion in the Panama Canal Zone.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral corneal opacity and vitreous floaters, diagnosed in a November 2019 VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 23, 2013 for the Veteran's right leg amputation below the knee and related disabilities. The decision also addressed increased ratings and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with sleep disorder, bilateral glaucoma, tinnitus, and foot disability, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The appeal is dismissed because the Veteran did not identify a valid rating decision to disagree with, and his claims for service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of February 1, 2019. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 18, 1990 for the grant of service connection for scars is denied as the date of entitlement arose on that date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent rating for his service-connected skin disability was denied as the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in severity within one year prior to his April 8, 2020, claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and a TDIU prior to June 25, 2019 have been dismissed. The appeal for an effective date prior to June 25, 2019 for DEA benefits has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle disability in excess of 10 percent is denied, and an initial compensable rating (10%) for his left lateral ankle scar is granted.

The Veteran's SMC from January 5, 2018, to April 12, 2023, is granted at the rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(n) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability. The Veteran's residuals of an aortic dissection are rated at 60 percent, but not higher, due to preclusion of exertion.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas; however, total occupational and social impairment has not been demonstrated. The Veteran is entitled to a separate rating for her chest scar from aortic dissection surgery.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU. The issue of a higher disability rating for TBI is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's TBI with depressive disorder, along with other service-connected disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 16, 2022. Since then, he is in receipt of a 100% rating for his TBI and additional disabilities independently rated at over 60%, qualifying him for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's service-connected scars, right and left lower extremities, were granted effective February 19, 2020. The Veteran also received increased ratings for his painful scars of the bilateral knees as of that date. His knee disabilities, including ACL reconstruction with traumatic arthritis and meniscal tear, were also rated based on their specific manifestations.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 1, 2015 for the award of service connection for verruca vulgaris scars. The issue of a higher initial rating for verruca vulgaris scars is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues related to service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his right wrist sprain with tenosynovitis and a temporary total disability reasonably encompassed his right hand neuritis (to include carpal tunnel syndrome status post carpal tunnel release) and surgical scars to the right wrist and palm. An effective date of April 2, 2019 for the 30 percent evaluation of neuritis of the right hand (to include carpal tunnel syndrome status post carpal tunnel release) is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for dysphonia secondary to true vocal cord paralysis status post right upper parathyroid adenoma resection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for scar, neck, status post surgery is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and his military service, as well as potential Reserve service aggravation.