Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete treatment records and inadequate opinions concerning the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to scars and basal cell carcinoma. The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained prior to the March 2023 rating decision were inadequate for determining the appropriate ratings, particularly regarding the nature of the scarring. Therefore, these issues are being remanded to obtain further evaluations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the right and left-posterior hip scars, status post back surgery, by submitting a statement in June 2023. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's left foot scar, finding that there were no other disabling effects not considered in a rating provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's scars of the face and neck are due to sun exposure during his active-duty service, resulting in basal cell carcinoma. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these scars were caused by service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right ear scar, which meets at least two characteristics of disfigurement as per Diagnostic Code 7800.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues listed, as the Veteran withdrew her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU based on extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of left inguinal hernia and left inguinal hernia scar have been denied as there is no evidence of recurrent or postoperative recurrent hernias requiring truss or belt support, and the left inguinal hernia scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7802.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for the Veteran's right knee scar, finding that the evidence did not show it was unstable or painful and did not cause any functional limitations.

The Veteran's cause of death was intracerebral hemorrhage and hypertension. The Board finds a VA medical opinion is necessary to determine if his service-connected conditions caused or contributed to his death.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the propriety of the reduction in rating for prostate cancer. The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for painful lower abdominal scars was granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for colon cancer and its associated surgical scar, as well as the effective dates for these claims. The Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim prior to March 24, 2015.

The Veteran was granted an effective date of July 24, 2012 for TDIU and DEA based on his service-connected disabilities.,His service-connected conditions rendered him permanently and totally disabled from that date.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 11, 2007 for the grant of a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's conditions rendered her unemployable as of that date.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for a residual scar of the forehead is granted at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to outdated medical examinations. The Veteran's left knee conditions, back disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder are all under review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 16, 2011. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to lack of substantial evidence showing marginal employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further examination. The Veteran reported being struck in the face by a metal can of syrup during service, which may have caused his current facial injuries.