Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was partially granted. Service connection was established for a low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left hip trochanteric pain syndrome (limitation of extension), limitation of flexion, and limitation of abduction/adduction were denied. His claim for a compensable rating for gastroenteritis was also denied. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was withdrawn from the appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service connection claims due to a duty to assist error. The claims for bilateral flatfeet/fallen arches, chronic rhinitis/sinusitis, unspecified anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right knee scar are all being reconsidered.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are granted service connection. The Veteran's scar of the left anterior knee is denied as not aggravated by service. Service connection for left knee disability is denied. Unexplained body aches claim is remanded.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is granted at a 70 percent rating effective April 30, 2019. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various radiculopathy conditions and a neck scar have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the current symptoms.

The Veteran's hair loss and some other conditions are granted service connection, while the right hand disability is denied. The Veteran also has a new rating for his low back condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for supraventricular arrhythmia and pacemaker scar was denied. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for his supraventricular arrhythmia, which is rated at 30 percent. For his pacemaker scar, he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 21, 2017 for the award of a 10% rating for traumatic painful scars of the lower lip.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as the VA examination results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's COPD is currently rated at zero percent, with PFTs showing an FEV-1 of 91% predicted and FEV-1/FVC of 96%, which does not warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6604.,For lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, the Veteran's current rating is at 20 percent based on forward flexion of 50 degrees and combined range of motion of 125 degrees. The VA examination did not show ankylosis or muscle spasm/severe guarding resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour.,The Veteran's right groin scar has been rated as zero percent, with no evidence of instability or pain.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of GERD, an immunosuppression disability, seborrheic dermatitis (also claimed as acne/scars), cervical strain (neck pain), and tinea pedis (athlete's foot).

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for the issue of service connection for facial scarring. A 10 percent initial rating, but no higher, is granted for tension headaches. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and IBS with GERD are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for a decision on service connection for right knee scar and low back condition.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for cause of death and remands the case for further development.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for various compensable rating claims related to basal cell carcinoma scars due to his withdrawal of appeal.

The appeals for service connection and higher ratings for various conditions have been dismissed due to procedural defects, including concurrent elections of review options.

The Board has restored the Veteran's rating for tender scars, status post stimulator implant for left knee pain from 20 percent to 20 percent effective December 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were remanded due to incomplete or unclear records, particularly regarding the timing of his service connection requests.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted service connection as presumed related to exposure to fine particulate matter during his Gulf War service. His bilateral hearing loss and left eyebrow, scalp scars are not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis left wrist status-post fusion with residual scar was dismissed as untimely.