Scars Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development of records from the Veteran's National Guard service period from June 1973 to January 1976. The claim for a residual scalp scar will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility prior to July 26, 2022 are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory condition manifested by scarring of the lung apices and dyspnea, finding that it had onset during his active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for shrapnel wound scars, finding that they are related to a combat injury during service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder with anxiety, is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. His left knee scar is granted a 10 percent evaluation for being painful or unstable. The right knee disability is granted a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left knee, right knee, low back, breast cancer, and thyroid disability, have been denied.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating for first right metatarsal joint degenerative changes with calcaneal spur has also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied. Additionally, his facial scars prior to April 15, 2022, tinnitus, and headaches have also been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for scarlet fever as there is no current diagnosis of scarlet fever and the evidence does not show a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for linear scars, status post bilateral breast reduction surgery, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DCs 7801 and 7802.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left hip disability has been reopened, and the rating reductions from 20 percent to 10 percent effective August 1, 2017 for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were found improper. The 20 percent ratings are restored.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, subject to further development on remand issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sinusitis, facial scar, and multiple fractures of the mandible with loss of teeth, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 22, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, finding that VA did not cause his additional disability and there was no evidence of negligence or fault on VA's part.

Your claim for service connection for a left pinky finger disability has been fully granted, and the AOJ has already provided you with the necessary benefits. The appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for post-appendectomy/post-Cesarean section scar and cervical cancerous cells of the cervix is being remanded due to incomplete development.,The appeals for residuals of an inservice Caesarian-section surgery, post-service hysterectomy, left foot/ankle sprain, disabilities of the right arm, cervical spine, chest wall muscles and back muscles, left shoulder, left arm, and left hand are also being remanded due to incomplete development.,The appeal for increased disability ratings for impairment of the right thumb and hand is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's right hand scar is not more than six square inches in combined total area and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,VA has not provided an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium was aggravated during service. The Veteran's current right eye condition remains unclear.

The Board has denied an increased rating for total left hip replacement and remanded the TDIU claim due to lack of compliance with VA examination scheduling requirements.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for back and left knee disabilities due to new evidence suggesting a worsening of symptoms since previous examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address all theories of entitlement. The claims are being returned for further development.