Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions, including stroke disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, speech disorder, left arm disability (including forearm disability), and left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left arm scar is also being remanded.

The Veteran's left third toe disorder is not service-connected as it did not have its onset during his period of honorable service and is not etiologically related to his period of honorable service.,Bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service, but the extent of aggravation beyond its natural progression is unclear due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for chest surgery scars and hypertension, as well as service connection claims for right and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's scar, residual of TBI, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to lack of characteristics of disfigurement. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been raised and is being remanded for further review.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a compensable rating for scar of the left little finger, service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and new and material evidence for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia) due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his scar of the mid low back is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine and tension headaches, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, sciatic radiculopathy of the left leg, sciatic radiculopathy of the right leg, finger joint pain, left knee condition, and right knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for CAD prior to May 23, 2014 is denied. A higher rating for CAD from May 23, 2014 to September 3, 2019 is also denied. An initial 10 percent rating is granted for a right leg scar. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 28, 2012, but the Board remanded the issue of whether he should have received a TDIU prior to that date.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and CAD, as the claims were not filed within one year of receipt of incomplete forms.,An earlier effective date of April 9, 2011 was granted for service connection of CAD due to its inclusion in a list of diseases presumptively associated with herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim for service connection for surgical scarring related to CAD was also granted on the same date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for alcoholism was dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues, including PTSD with depressive disorder, surgical scars of the right ankle, status post fracture of right ankle with ORIF, tendonitis of the left knee, actinic keratosis, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and physical disabilities separately result in her requiring regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting a higher rate of special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to the decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's long history of working in a position requiring significant ambulation, combined with his left ankle disability, makes it reasonably possible that he cannot maintain substantially gainful employment.

The appeals for increased ratings for inguinal hernia, eye disorder (corneal abrasions and lacerations), and neck scar were dismissed. The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea was granted. The claims for service connection for inguinal hernia, corneal abrasions and lacerations, and neck scar are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting left knee surgery and surgical scar did not become aggravated by service, and therefore, cannot be granted service connection for this condition.,There is no persuasive evidence to support a finding that any of the Veteran's disabilities (left knee disability, cervical spine disability, or lumbar spine disability) had their onset during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU. The matter of an increased rating for left hip strain is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant were denied due to her failure to report for the scheduled examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's claim for ED was denied as there is no evidence of penile deformity associated with the condition.,Claims for right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, tension headaches, scars, and knee disabilities were all denied due to lack of evidence showing entitlement prior to April 30, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to non-compliance with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional evidentiary development due to a significant change in his employment status and the need to reassess whether he has an employment handicap or serious employment handicap.