Scars Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow, wrist, and wrist scar disabilities due to inadequate examination opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations considering the Veteran's lay statements about his in-service injuries and current symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot and finger conditions, significantly limit his ability to engage in gainful employment consistent with his prior work experience. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effects of these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain relevant medical records. The issues include increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, major depressive disorder, hiatal hernia with GERD, and a scar.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for pilonidal sinus removal scar and left small finger scar are being remanded due to potential worsening of the conditions since his last examination in June 2018. The VA must obtain any outstanding treatment records and schedule the Veteran for an appropriate examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left upper thigh puncture wound scar should be remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient consideration of the ameliorative effects of lidocaine cream used by the Veteran.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for scarring, residuals of discectomy and fusion laminectomy due to the evidence not persuasively showing that the Veteran has five or more painful and/or unstable scars.

The Veteran's right foot cyst removal with residual surgical scar is granted a 10% disability rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for left scalp scar and remanded the service connection claim for headaches. The Veteran's headaches are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to total disability for individual unemployability (TDIU) due to conflicting assertions regarding whether the Veteran requires more time to submit a VA Form 21-8940 and whether it is required at all. Further, a retrospective VA opinion must be obtained that provides an analysis of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability since June 2000.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for lumbar spine surgical scars and right foot surgical scar due to additional evidence being added after the February 2020 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The cervical spinal fusion disability is rated at 40 percent, neck scars are rated at 30 percent, and loss of taste remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for these issues prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for head injury and scar due to head injury have been denied as there is no current diagnosis associated with these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for ulcerative colitis has been remanded as the evidence is conflicting regarding her diagnosis, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if she has had this condition at any point during the appeal period and whether it is related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates and remanded the rating decisions for left gluteal fistula repair and scar, residual from left gluteal fistula repair. The decision also found that there was no informal claim prior to March 24, 2015 for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a head injury, including headaches, dizziness, and a scar on the left frontal skull is granted. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent evaluation, the highest available under the rating criteria. The other conditions have either not met their respective criteria for increased evaluations or are being remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including examinations and opinions regarding his lip and forehead scars, right thigh scar, digestive disorder, left lower extremity disorder, right hip disorder, and residuals of a head injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to address the Veteran's theory of asbestos exposure. The case will be returned for a new VA medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence of onset and etiology, requiring VA examinations. The PACT Act presumption applies to TERA exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for scars of the left and right breasts, as well as residuals of excision of fibromas on her breasts (other than scars), are granted.,The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding continuity of symptomatology since service.