Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's claimed residuals of TBI, specifically related to a 1977 motorcycle accident. The examiner should address whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has any residuals from a TBI that had their onset in or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's GERD and pilonidal scar claims are both denied as the evidence does not support the assignment of any compensable ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis with degenerative disc disease is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's low back condition, left shoulder condition, stress headaches, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (secondary to a service-connected low back condition), right hand scars, and dermatophytosis are all being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for residuals of non-small cell lung cancer, left posterior trunk scars, and left anterior truck scars have been denied as the medical evidence does not support a higher rating based on current disability levels.

The Veteran's service-connected laceration / scar to the RIGHT posterior tibial area is rated at 10 percent, effective from July 2013. The Board granted a separate, additional 10 percent rating for painful residuals of the laceration / scar. Service connection was established for secondary knee arthralgia and denied for bilateral hip, ankle, and foot disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left upper extremity disability, left knee disability, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to insufficient evidence of improvement in his conditions under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disability, right hip disability, sleep apnea, and right hand scar as there was no evidence of their onset in service or within one year following discharge. The Board found that arthritis of the spine or hip did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating and SMC based on loss of use of the left foot is remanded due to incomplete VA examination reports. The Board requires additional retrospective medical findings to determine if there is effective function remaining other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation with prosthetic.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to new evidence received after the October 2018 SOC. The VA will review this additional evidence and arrange for any necessary examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment based on his educational and occupational background.

The Veteran's back, right knee, and left knee disorders were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology since service.,The Veteran's bilateral eye conditions (myopia, chorioretinal scars, and staphyloma) are considered congenital defects and not diseases for VA compensation purposes. There is no clear and unmistakable evidence that these preexisted service or were aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for heart disorder, hypertension, colon cancer, and scar tissue surgery due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA will obtain additional evidence and provide further examinations.

The Veteran's right elbow pain and numbness, as well as his right arm scarring, are not service-connected due to lack of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's left ear otitis media and externa, as well as outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, effective October 4, 2006. He seeks a higher rating.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent since the beginning of the appeal period, effective from August 2015.,The Veteran's left eyebrow scar was initially rated as noncompensably disabling and later granted a 30 percent rating since July 20, 2016.,The Veteran's right knee strain is denied for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,Right shin splint remains remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in July 2022 were inadequate to decide the claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear, left knee subluxation and degenerative joint disease, left knee residual scar, and reactive airway disease. The case is being remanded to obtain addendum opinions from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeals for acne vulgaris, scalp laceration, and scars due to acne have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability and a left leg disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded by the Board.,His initial rating for left knee surgical scar, post-laceration scarring posterior scalp, and post-traumatic headaches remain denied.