Scars Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for facial scars, finding that there is no evidence to support that the currently diagnosed scars were incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient examination reports and medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability and assigned a noncompensable rating to the Veteran's left foot disability, bilateral testicular torsion s/p orchiotomy, and residual scar associated with bilateral testicular torsion s/p orchiotomy.,For his left foot disability, the Veteran was granted an initial 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The right clavicle fracture, right clavicle scar, left knee strain and joint osteoarthritis, and arterioslerotic heart disease are all found to be related to service. A rating of 30 percent has been assigned for bilateral hearing loss from October 28, 2019 through February 5, 2023.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, residuals of a ganglion scar, sarcoidosis, and headaches, precluded him from securing substantially gainful employment prior to October 11, 2016. As such, TDIU is granted.

The appeal for service connection for organ damage (Stephens-Johnson Syndrome) is dismissed. Service connection for residuals of brain lesion with craniotomy, migraine headaches, and strokes are granted on a secondary basis due to the residual effects of the brain surgery. Service connection for a surgical scar on the right side of scalp is also granted on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a liver disorder is dismissed as the RO has already granted it. The Veteran's bilateral lower leg four-compartment fasciotomies with scars are now rated at 10% from April 1, 2015.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period prior to August 9, 2016. For the period between August 9, 2016 and October 1, 2017, the weight of evidence did not support a finding that any other service-connected disability prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for lymphedema of the right and left lower extremities, as well as for right hip, left hip, and right ankle disabilities. The claims for neurological disorders of the lower extremities and general disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and left foot scar are granted service connection.,Service connection for a left hip osteopenia is denied as it is not considered a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's hepatitis B, left knee total joint replacement, right knee total joint replacement, and left knee surgical scar claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, was reopened and granted. Service connection for PTSD was denied. The effective date of the award for post-concussive migraine headaches and TBI is set at April 11, 2017.,Service connection for TBI and left eyebrow scar was also granted with an effective date of April 11, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and medical opinions due to incomplete records, inadequate examination reports, and failure to address certain aspects of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and potential National Guard service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, and residuals, laceration scar of the right chest have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was received and must be considered in the context of the Veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings. The appeal is being remanded to allow for a full review of the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic brain injury residuals, including residual scars, as these conditions are found to have originated during active service.

The Board has found inconsistencies in the evidence regarding herbicide exposure and needs to clarify whether the Veteran was exposed to qualifying chemicals from herbicides during his service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 30 percent for left eye orbital floor fracture is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for left upper and lower eyelid scars is denied.,The Veteran lacks the legal grounds to establish entitlement to a 10 percent rating for multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities.