Scars Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and surgical scars on the chest as the appellant withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development of the evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected PFB with neck scarring is characterized by a skin condition covering less than 5 percent of the entire body and less than 5 percent of the exposed areas affected, and involves only treatment with topical, non-systemic therapy. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for spondylolisthesis has been dismissed as a matter of law.

The Board has remanded several issues for readjudication due to the submission of additional evidence since the last decision. The Veteran is requested to waive AOJ consideration of this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and new evidence of increased severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted a 50% rating prior to September 22, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development, including VA examinations. The Veteran's right knee condition and scar are rated more than 10 percent but need further evaluation.

The Veteran's tarsal tunnel syndrome in the left ankle was granted a 10 percent rating from September 28, 2010 to October 14, 2014 and a 20 percent rating thereafter. The left ankle scar received a 10 percent rating which is maintained. The low back disability claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD, and increased ratings for the service-connected muscle injury, and associated scars were withdrawn by his representative. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 1, 2016 for the service connection of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, linear scar from hernia surgery, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, migraine headaches, epididymitis, and residual scar from hernia operation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates due to new evidence received after the initial decisions. The Veteran is entitled to earlier effective dates for service connection of CAD, surgical scar, and atrial fibrillation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including pes planus, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, left shoulder disability, right hand scar, and bilateral hearing loss. The combined rating of these conditions exceeds the schedular requirement for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has remanded several issues, including those related to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as some of the disability evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of testicular cancer due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's chronic lung condition and scars are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and tibial neuropathy of the right knee and lower foot are being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for scar, status post desmoid removal is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 23, 2017 is being remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 15, 2013 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The portion of the decision that dismissed entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to December 6, 2016, is vacated.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected PTSD, which prevented him from working. The Board granted a TDIU rating for the period from August 28, 2018, to April 8, 2021.