Scars Board decisions

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's scar left forearm status post human bite, finding that the evidence did not support an increase in disability due to lack of underlying soft tissue damage or nerve dysfunction.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development. The Veteran's abdominal surgery residuals and acne scarring of the head, neck, and face need to be evaluated again with consideration given to any flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA medical records and further examination is needed to determine if he has any acquired psychiatric disorders, head injury residuals, scarring at the head, bilateral eye disorders, or a low back disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to her service-connected disabilities, is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's facial acne with scarring is granted a higher initial disability rating of 30% from October 8, 2010. The residuals of the right hand fracture are denied any compensable initial disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected lipoma residual scar of the upper back is rated at 10 percent disabling, and his combined rating does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on schedular or extraschedular standards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that he failed to report for VA examinations and his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck condition due to the lack of in-service diagnosis and no link to service.

The Board granted a separate, additional 30 percent rating for loss of part of the nose with a disfiguring scar associated with the Veteran's already service-connected deviated nasal septum and status post nasal fracture.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the terms of its previous remand instructions. Further remand is necessary to obtain all VA treatment records from 1999 to the present and to verify the Veteran's alleged service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate November 2022 opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected tinea disorder aggravated his appendectomy scar.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for initial compensable evaluation of surgical scar of the midline back and an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for lumbar spinal stenosis from April 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including blurry vision in his right eye, a left elbow scar, IBS, GERD, bilateral knee and arm conditions, joint and muscle condition, paresthesia (claimed as neuropathy), and balance issues. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right-hand scars. The initial compensable rating (greater than 10 percent) claims for residuals of fracture of the right fourth and fifth fingers and right hand scars are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating in excess of 50 percent for shell fragment wounds of the left face has been withdrawn. The appeals for ratings on painful scars, right lower extremity status post shell fragment wounds and surgeries with history of painful facial scar have been dismissed due to lack of evidence supporting entitlement.

The Veteran's right-side pilonidal cyst scar is rated at 0 percent, which is the noncompensable rating. The Board found that the scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7802.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left foot, right foot, and left wrist disabilities. The Veteran's right wrist disability was also denied as secondary to a service-connected scar.,Service connection was not established for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities is established, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient medical evidence of record and a need for a combined-effects medical examination. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, gout, lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, left sciatic nerve impingement, right sciatic nerve impingement, hypertension, tinnitus, left upper lip scar, right thigh scar, left posterior thorax scar, and bilateral tinea pedis. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded to allow for a proper examination and evaluation of his employment impact.

The Veteran's right knee replacement has been granted a 60 percent rating effective November 12, 2019.,A 60 percent rating for total left knee replacement (previously rated as left knee strain) is granted from December 1, 2019.,The Veteran's right knee scar was initially rated at 10 percent and has been remanded to determine if a higher initial rating is warranted.