Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion to address the etiology of his headaches and ensuring that VA responds to the Veteran's request for credentials. The issues include service connection for headaches secondary to a scar above the right eye and TDIU prior to December 12, 2019.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection of scars, status post breast reduction.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 11, 2012 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied.,The Veteran's lumbar disability is rated at the highest available schedular rating (10 percent).,The Veteran's scar, right lower extremity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,From November 27, 2017 to August 13, 2018, the Veteran's surgical scar, right foot is rated at the highest available schedular rating (10 percent).,The Veteran's hallux valgus is rated at the highest available schedular rating.,Service connection for chest/heart pain, hypertension, and an unspecified neurological disorder are remanded.,Service connection for a total disability rating based upon unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to assess the Veteran's employability prior to May 7, 2019, considering his service-connected disabilities and past limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for left knee surgical scars, an evaluation greater than 10 percent for right knee limitation of extension prior to July 21, 2022, or a compensable evaluation for right knee limitation of flexion. However, he is granted a rating of 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability and a rating of 10 percent evaluation for left knee instability.

The Board has determined that the current VA examinations are inadequate and requires new examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, blood pressure disorder, and scars.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 30 percent for five or more painful scars has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and his TDIU claim have both been remanded.

The Veteran's sinusitis from January 31, 2018 to March 14, 2019 is denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The scar of the posterior scalp associated with traumatic brain injury was granted a 10% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance as he is capable of attending medical appointments outside his home, does not require nursing care, and has no significant impairments that necessitate regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for an appendectomy scar was denied as the scar did not result in any functional impact and there were no symptoms related to it.,Service connection for dementia was also denied, with the Board finding that the Veteran's dementia is not at least as likely as not incurred or related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 2, 2018.,There is no evidence showing that the Veteran's COPD is related to his active-duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination reports and the need for updated treatment records. The Veteran's hiatal hernia and esophageal reflux with scar conditions are being reviewed again.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's chloracne with residual scarring, finding that it is related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for an appendectomy scar, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of aggravation during service or by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's lung disorders are related to his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 15, 2016 have been denied as there is no evidence of a claim filed before this date.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 3, 2012. The Board has remanded the case for further development including referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for facial scarring, left index finger injury, left ring finger injury, left little finger injury, left thumb injury, left wrist injury, and skin disease (claimed as 'rash all over body') due to potential new evidence. The Veteran will be provided a VA examination if his preexisting conditions are confirmed during the appellate period.

The Veteran's combined schedular rating for the service-connected conditions was 80% effective January 6, 2010, which granted him SMC housebound status as of that date.