Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for surgical scar status post lumbar laminectomy and diskectomy prior to March 6, 2020, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed arthritis, feet scarring, and feet blisters. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional evidence and opinions are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, left calf scar, and skin lesions are denied. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship of these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) with scarring, as the Veteran opted his legacy appeal into the modernized review system in January 2020.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of service connection for various upper and lower extremity conditions. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disabilities and TDIU due to the Veteran not reporting to scheduled VA examinations. The matter will be further adjudicated after obtaining updated medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the effective date of TDIU and concerns about VA's duty to assist. The Veteran needs a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to work given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance, as he is able to perform self-care activities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increase in the rating for PTSD, left elbow fracture, and post-concussive headaches at a June 2022 video conference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to January 27, 2021, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple surgical procedures and their potential impact on his conditions. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain Social Security Administration disability benefits records, as the record shows SSA disability benefits but there is no evidence of such in the VA file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disability, finding that her condition does not require such assistance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for initial ratings for right ankle strain, left ankle tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain (IVDS) are granted with specific disability ratings. The claim for a compensable rating for the service-connected left ankle scar is denied. The claims for initial ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerves remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in previous decisions and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims for compensation for additional disability due to allegedly negligent VA surgical treatment, TDIU rating, and abdominal scarring are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve, left sciatic nerve, hemorrhoids, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, kidney stones, lip numbness, and gastrointestinal disorders have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) with scarring is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied as she failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, resulting in the claims being decided based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The right total knee replacement rating is also being remanded.,The Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted for the Veteran's bilateral knee scars.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for painful scarring, residuals of discectomy and fusion laminectomy, finding that the evidence did not show five or more painful and/or unstable scars.