Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's treatment for his fungal infection with Clobetasol.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 4, 2009, for a 40 percent rating for TBI with migraine headaches (previously Cephalgia) as residuals of a GSW to the skull is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional VA medical evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, and therefore, these matters are being remanded for further action.

The Board denied service connection for a scar secondary to a left hip knife wound, diabetes mellitus, back pain, right and left leg disabilities, falls (claimed as poor balance), residuals of traumatic brain injury prior to October 28, 2021, and TDIU prior to October 28, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pancreatic cancer and a scar related to pancreatic cancer surgery, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for two left shoulder scars is denied as there is no evidence that the scars were painful prior to May 29, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of any right arm neurological disability associated with his service-connected Dupuytren's nodule.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his scar, lumbar spine was denied. However, the Board granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for painful scars on the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection are dismissed. The Board remanded several issues including the rating of AML, hemochromatosis, and left buttocks scar.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed obstructive sleep apnea. The effective dates for increased ratings on neck scar, right upper chest scar, and left elbow and wrist scars are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and referral for extra-schedular TDIU consideration prior to April 14, 2021. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are expected to impact his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) for aid and attendance was denied because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities alone rendered him in need of regular aid and assistance.,Initial ratings higher than 10 percent for hypopigmented scars, residual of cervical fusion, and scars, status post cervical fusions were also denied as there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied. The Veteran does not qualify for DEA benefits prior to his current effective date of March 25, 2019. SMC based on housebound criteria was granted as of that same date.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for basic eligibility to DEA benefits is denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria at the time of his TDIU award and thus cannot qualify for DEA benefits prior to March 25, 2019.,SMC based on housebound criteria was granted as of March 25, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and a 30 percent rating for scar were granted effective November 10, 2022. The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a pre-decisional error in fulfilling the duty to assist. Specifically, a medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Appellant was insane at the time of his discharge.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues, including service connection claims and rating determinations for various conditions. The reduction of the PTSD rating was restored, but other claims remain pending.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 14, 2018 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a left leg scar is denied as he does not have a scar on his left leg.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder, neck, left arm, left finger, and back disorders were not incurred in or caused by service. The disorders were not aggravated by, proximately due to or the result of service-connected disabilities.