Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his claimed disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for plantar fasciitis, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for trace central corneal scar of the left eye from December 2, 2015, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for trace corneal scar of the left eye from December 2, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hand scar, left knee strain, and right knee strain were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent. The denial was based on the fact that the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination related to his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate prior to September 14, 2020 is granted. The criteria were met from August 25, 2015 onward due to his PTSD being rated as 70 percent disabling.

The Veteran's painful scars of the bilateral underarm and anterior trunk have been granted a disability rating of 20 percent.,The Veteran's ageusia (loss of sense of taste) has not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to April 18, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he and his representative requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and an opinion on the etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 9, 2020. The Board has now granted a TDIU rating on a schedular basis from that date, which triggers the need for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and chest scars, finding the evidence in relative equipoise concerning whether the Veteran's heart condition was properly characterized as IHD. The chest scarring is secondary to a heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for hysterectomy prior to June 3, 2019 is denied. Beginning June 3, 2019, the Veteran is granted a rating of 50 percent for her service-connected hysterectomy. The claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected scars are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and review of the Veteran's work history. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 7, 2016 is now pending.

The appeal for service connection for a deviated septum has been dismissed. The claims for low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), sinusitis, GERD, narcolepsy with cataplexy, eczema, and PFB scars have all been reopened due to new evidence received since the final rating decisions.

The Veteran's claims for a nontender scar of the right buttocks, fibromyalgia/chronic pain syndrome, left hip disability, and bilateral leg disabilities have all been denied.,An earlier effective date prior to August 29, 2014, for service connection of the nontender scar of the right buttocks has also been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected scars and CAD, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including obtaining relevant records from SSA and VA. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with these procedures.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left knee condition, and bilateral pes planus have been reopened. The appeal regarding TDIU is dismissed. The appeals for service connection are remanded due to new and material evidence having been submitted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria and there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable due to these conditions. The decision also notes that the Veteran does not have any physical limitations preventing him from working.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.