Scars Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his service-connected abdominal scars and urinary incontinence. The issues of TDIU due to service-connected conditions and a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to June 26, 2020, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for posttraumatic stress disorder with depressive disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in the VA examinations and the need to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's service-connected back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, painful scar, and linear scar are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, TMJ, and various musculoskeletal conditions have been denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for these conditions are also denied.,Additionally, the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The rating for the back disability was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to January 21, 2020, and thereafter. Other claims for increased ratings or earlier effective dates were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, including residual scars and disfigurement, finding that it is related to sun and environmental exposures during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis B, renal failure as secondary to hepatitis B, and an abdominal scar as secondary to hepatitis B on a substitution basis. The Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scarring on the axilla, GERD, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity have been denied.,A rating in excess of 10% is not warranted for scarring on the axilla prior to March 27, 2019 or thereafter. The Veteran's GERD remains rated at 10%. A 20% rating is assigned for peripheral neuropathy of the RUE from April 19, 2016 onwards.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for her psychiatric disability and ankle disabilities. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on scar, residual of left inguinal hernia repair and residuals of scar or right thumb and scar right knee were denied.,Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone supports an award of total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability, and his other service-connected disabilities combined exceed a 60% rating. Therefore, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is granted for the purpose of accrued benefits.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his need for aid and attendance or housebound status was also denied due to the lack of evidence linking his disabilities to his service.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his right knee arthritis, instability, and scars are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Appellant's income and medical expenses to determine her eligibility for death pension benefits, as well as to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and ionizing radiation during service. Additionally, a VA medical opinion is needed to address the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a separate disability of the back other than cervical strain and for left ring finger fracture, to include scarring, as secondary to service-connected cervical strain. The claim for increased rating for cervical strain was also denied.,There is no indication that any exposure basis (e.g., burn pit, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune) played a role in the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right wrist, hand, and thumb disabilities. The residuals of ulnar collateral ligament tear and ulnar nerve transfer surgery are also granted as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him during the periods from March 20, 2018 through November 30, 2020 and since March 23, 2022. However, the TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the period from December 1, 2020 through March 22, 2022.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine and low back disabilities. The effective date issue is resolved with an October 31, 2016 effective date for service connection.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate, right and left knee disabilities for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include major depressive disorder, cervical spine disability, total knee replacements on both knees, gout in multiple joints, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, thoracic spine disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, and migraine headaches due to incomplete development of records.