Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a medical opinion and an incomplete review of the service department records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities need to be evaluated in relation to his discharge.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Korea and granted pursuant to the PACT Act. The issues for right wrist limitation of motion, right wrist surgical scar, and right wrist gangliectomy scar are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability due to additional VA treatment records being submitted. The matter will be reconsidered and a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) will be issued.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on various service-connected conditions were denied. The rating of 20 percent for painful scars, to include of the breast and torso, was granted from November 1, 2010, to December 19, 2016, but denied thereafter. A compensable rating for residuals of an inguinal hernia was also denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at a maximum 40 percent rating. Service connection claims were not granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, other than PTSD, do not preclude her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease is granted as August 31, 2010. The appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, which also does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right hand scars are currently rated as noncompensable. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in not obtaining a medical opinion prior to issuing the March 2021 decision on appeal for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's APML is granted with an effective date of July 6, 2007.,Left arm peripheral neuropathy, right leg peripheral neuropathy, left leg peripheral neuropathy, and left eye vision loss are all granted with the same effective date of July 6, 2007.,The scar on the Veteran's chest is also granted with an effective date of July 6, 2007.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for increased ratings of her service-connected disabilities, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various disabilities and increased ratings, as well as an earlier effective date claim. The Veteran's claims are now pending with the RO.

The Board has remanded the cases of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a right shoulder disability and an initial compensable rating for a right shoulder scar due to lack of information on range of motion during flare-ups, as well as the need for another scar examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, central corneal scar of the right eye, lagophthalmos of the upper eyelid of the right eye, and optic neuropathy of the right eye are etiologically related to his in-service traumatic injuries. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The effective date for service connection remains August 20, 2013.

The Veteran's right eye vision loss is deemed a qualifying additional disability resulting from VA medical treatment, and the cause of this disability was an event not reasonably foreseeable. Therefore, the Veteran is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for his right eye vision loss.

The Veteran's service-connected painful scars, right hand, right calf, and right ankle were found to not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent due to the lack of unstable or painful scars.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of actinic keratosis, bilateral hand and wrist scars, and neck scars have been dismissed. The appeal seeking service connection for OSA is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right eyebrow cysts and left shoulder scar are related to his service-connected conditions or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a need for updated medical examinations and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial disability ratings for service-connected coronary artery disease and residual scars has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his attorney.