Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hysterectomy scar, service connection for left knee disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right shin splints, and left shin splints have been remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records. The AOJ will review these records and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a right leg disorder, and right leg scars are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected left lumbar flank scar is granted a 10% disability rating, effective prior to November 22, 2022.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia was not found to meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's scars on his right 5th metacarpal and right inguinal area were also not found to warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not make him unable to perform daily functions or require regular assistance.

The Board denied service connection for a keloid scar of the right neck, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The scar of the left great toe was not rated compensably, while the traumatic degenerative joint disease of the left great toe resulted in a 20 percent rating. Service connection for low back pain secondary to the left great toe condition is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and psychiatric disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The claim for acne vulgaris with scarring is remanded due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions with associated radiculopathies, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, tinnitus, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, right Achilles tendonitis, left and right lower extremity varicose veins, right thumb arthritis, right ear hearing loss, hemangioma of the left scalp, left thigh meralgia paresthetica, right foot metatarsophalangeal arthritis, and right foot scar, are found to be sufficiently severe to render him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for her left wrist carpal tunnel release and painful left wrist scar are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for seborrheic dermatitis and degenerative changes, residual of fracture of the fifth right metacarpal and scar are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to verify his service in the Ohio Air National Guard and determine if any periods of deployment were federal service. The claims for service connection will be reconsidered after this verification.

The Veteran's right neck residual surgical scars are rated at 10 percent from August 24, 2016, and a separate rating of 10 percent for painful neck scars is also granted from January 23, 2020.,Both ratings are effective as of the dates noted above.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied, and the case is remanded due to the need for updated VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as his employment history needs clarification.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or housebound status is denied because he does not meet the criteria for either SMC rate.

Effective September 26, 2013, the Veteran was granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and its related disabilities including diabetic retinopathy, right below the knee amputation status post right foot transmetatarsal amputation (Lisfranc amputation), peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, and a scar from the amputation. Special monthly compensation was also awarded based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The initial 20 percent rating for his scar, left hip, is granted and will remain in effect.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a higher initial rating of 20% for burn scars on the left upper extremity, effective September 23, 2014. Other conditions had either noncompensable or lower initial ratings.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding earlier effective date for tinnitus and increased rating for scars as they were not properly raised in his VA Form 9.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment from September 25, 2019, to December 22, 2022. The Board granted a TDIU for this period based on the combined disability rating of 70 percent.