Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, right femur disability (fracture with intramedullary rodding), and scars associated with his right femur disability are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased evaluations for bilateral scrotal orchiopexy, right knee limitation of extension prior to July 21, 2022, right knee limitation of flexion, left knee meniscal tear, and left knee arthritis. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the above issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left inguinal abdominal scars is denied as the current 30 percent rating adequately compensates his disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for multiple scars of the right scrotum and stricture of the urethra have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a Board decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for left wrist disability and left wrist surgical scar. The TDIU issue remains before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 10 percent rating for a painful left knee scar is granted. The Board found the evidence supported a finding that the scar was both painful and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage, warranting a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings, increased disability ratings, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, disc bulges, and right ankle arthritis was dismissed. The appeals for seborrheic dermatitis, right knee disability, TMJ, and major depressive disorder were granted.,The Veteran is now entitled to an increased rating of 40 percent for his right foot disability, a 50 percent rating for his right wrist degenerative arthritis from April 26, 2016, and a TDIU from August 8, 2016 to October 19, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete records and a need to obtain additional treatment information from private sources.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities: a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability, a rating in excess of 50 percent for acquired psychiatric disability, and a compensable rating for scar, status post L5 microdiskectomy. The decision is based on the need for new VA examinations due to the passage of time since the last evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's prostatectomy residuals, specifically missing examinations for male reproductive organ and scar conditions. The Veteran is advised that he must cooperate with scheduling of these exams or a formal finding will be made.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding his concurrent receipt of VA disability compensation and drill pay for 30 training days during fiscal year 2016, finding that the presumption of regularity was not rebutted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was rated at 10 percent prior to June 20, 2022, and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's residual scar associated with intervertebral disc syndrome did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's reduction in disability rating from 10% to 0% for a scar of the left knee was not proper, and therefore his disability rating is restored to 10%. His claim for an increased rating for painful scarring of the left knee was denied. The extension of temporary total evaluations due to treatment or convalescence for a service-connected left knee disability were granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney transplant/removal and scaring as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The appeal regarding entitlement to a higher rating for TBI is dismissed. A rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for knee disabilities and scars are granted. The Board finds additional development is needed to address the Veteran's shin splints.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, evaluation of scars status post laceration of the left thumb and left index finger, and TDIU due to issues with VA communication and examination scheduling.