Scars Board decisions

The Board has determined that procedural errors occurred when the Veteran's appeal was placed in the AMA system, and it is being remanded to be re-docketed under the Legacy framework.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and evaluations related to his respiratory conditions, including histoplasmosis, pneumothorax, and scars from surgery, is being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection. The right shoulder disability ratings for limitation of motion and DJD status post dislocation and SLAP tear remain unchanged, but the rating for painful scars is increased to 20 percent from March 3, 2017 to February 19, 2019.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided do not comply with the remand instructions and thus, the claims for service connection are being remanded again.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for his left and right chin scars, which are residuals of shell fragment wounds, is being remanded due to procedural issues in the modernized review system. The case will be returned to the RO to issue an SOC addressing this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist scar is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records to be reviewed by the AOJ before a final decision can be made on his claim of a higher rating for recurrent peptic ulcer disease with scarring of duodenal bulb and pyloric stenosis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the cases of bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and SJS with scars are remanded due to outstanding records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is denied a rating in excess of 50 percent. Ratings for left and right knee conditions are granted, but not in excess of the current assigned ratings. Service connection is established for headaches, residuals from carpal tunnel release on the right wrist, and right wrist scar.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and attempting to obtain any outstanding private medical records. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include PTSD, cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and residual scars from the procedure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted, including a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected conditions. The initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and residual scar associated with right knee disability were denied.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to properly rate the Veteran's service-connected femur fracture fixation with intramedullary rod and screws, limitation of extension of the right thigh, and limitation of flexion of the right thigh. The issues of entitlement to higher disability evaluations for painful scar of the right lower extremity and scarring of right thigh and right knee, an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for painful scar of the right lower extremity, and a TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical examinations to assess his back and right knee disabilities due to limitations caused by Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's left wrist and right fourth finger scars were granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent each, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee scars do not warrant a compensable rating. The left knee disorder claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right foot scar and right foot disability have been granted ratings, with the right foot scar receiving a 10% rating and the right foot disability receiving a 30% rating.,Effective dates for both the right foot scar and right foot disability are set at March 31, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional clarification and consideration of his heart disability claim. The Board also grants an initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for lumbar spine surgical scar from March 1, 2016 to January 22, 2017.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement with advanced osteoarthritis is rated at 60 percent for the period from April 1, 2019, to August 14, 2022. The appeal for a higher rating in excess of 60 percent for this condition is denied. A compensable disability rating (10%) is granted for his scar, status post total knee replacement associated with right total knee replacement with advanced osteoarthritis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions, but has remanded these issues due to insufficient evidence. The claim for service connection for a scalp scar is also remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to July 31, 2015 was denied as her service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular threshold percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU.