Scars Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of these claims. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's representative withdrew all pending disability compensation claims and appeals, including those related to various conditions such as posterior fossa tumor ependymoma, left wrist neuropathy, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, depressive disorder (combined with neurocognitive disorder), light-headedness, dizziness and/or vertigo, headaches, ankle sprains, scars of the head, cognitive disorder, voiding dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board denied service connection for a left side colostomy scar and stomach scar, as well as the claim for TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the scars or TDIU to active service.

The Veteran's right femoral artery scar is not painful, measures less than 6 square inches (39 sq. cm.), and does not limit function.,The Veteran's right thigh muscle injury has manifested as a painful, slight injury.

Service connection for residuals of a right donor nephrectomy, including a scar, and cervical spine degenerative joint disease (DJD) have been granted.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome has been denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including effective dates for ratings and entitlements. The case is returned to the RO for further development of missing records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a sleep disturbance, to include sleep apnea, and an increased rating for GERD due to new evidence received within one year of the September 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and right foot conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 23, 2018. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective that date.

The Veteran's right knee scars and degenerative joint disease are rated as noncompensably disabling prior to April 15, 2019. The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for both the left and right knee scars. However, the claim is remanded due to insufficient information provided in the January 2017 VA examination regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left inguinal hernia repair. The appeal is currently pending and will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The case is remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including a rating in excess of 10 percent for a closed fracture of the left medial malleolus with surgical scar, an earlier effective date for the grant of a 10 percent rating for a closed fracture of the left medial malleolus with surgical scar, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for emphysema, and total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 29, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for scars on the left palm has been denied as his symptoms are fully contemplated by the existing ratings.

Service connection is granted for goiter and its residuals, including a post-surgical scar and hypothyroidism requiring continuous hormone replacement therapy.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew it prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and development of his service-connected acne scarring disabilities, including a psychiatric disorder secondary to those conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The effective date of service connection for residual scar status-post TBI is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches. The remaining claims are remanded and will be reconsidered with additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for cholecystectomy, cataract removal in the left eye, and multiple scars secondary to cholecystectomy due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's left eye corneal scar is related to an in-service insect sting. The Board has granted service connection for the left eye corneal scar but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left eye condition, other than the corneal scar.