Scars Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lung disability, including any additional symptoms such as chest pain with breathing and exertion.

The Veteran's rating for his service-connected painful scars, right groin, residual of cyst and left groin, residual of cyst was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent. The Board found that the reduction was not proper and restored the original 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including VA examination reports. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

All appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in April 2022.

The Board has remanded several service connection and increased rating claims, including those for a back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, diverticulitis, psychiatric disability, and diabetes mellitus. The effective dates for the grant of service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder disability and left finger disability due to inadequate opinions regarding their relationship to service. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions and any relevant treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for plantar fasciitis, psoriasis, and sebaceous cyst on back with post-surgical scar as she withdrew her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for an abdominal scar and residuals of an abdominal infection, finding that the conditions had their onset in service and have persisted since.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but the rating assigned was noncompensable. The Board also remanded several issues including hypertension and CFS.

The Board has determined that there was substantial compliance with the remand directives and these matters are again before the Board. The Veteran's correct mailing address needs to be confirmed, and he should submit any pertinent new evidence regarding his claimed conditions. Appropriate examinations need to be scheduled for each condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding hypertension, left head injury and traumatic brain injury, left lower temporal scar, and left ear hearing loss as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for scars, status post surgeries and entitlement to TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of drainage of a left shoulder abscess, including glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and scarring. The decision finds that the Veteran's current disability is related to his in-service injury.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of service connection for chloracne, effective date prior to February 28, 2013, for a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, and increased ratings for erectile dysfunction (ED), coronary artery disease (CAD) with myocardial infarction (MI) and status post coronary bypass surgery, acne vulgaris with scarring, and DM. The issues of initial compensable ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (LUE), right (major) upper extremity (RUE), left (minor) lower extremity (LLE), and right lower extremity (RLE) have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for right ankle surgical scars has been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities, but the remaining issues have been remanded.,Service connection is granted for left knee and right knee disabilities as they are related to military service.,Service connection is granted for sinusitis and deviated septum surgery residuals based on their relationship to military service.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to unclear range of motion measurements and lack of clarification regarding flare-ups, pain on extension, and medication use.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for right and left knee strain, stress fracture, limitation of flexion and extension are denied. She is granted a separate disability rating evaluated at 10 percent, but no higher, for right knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected testicle removal with scars is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination and the need for a new examination.