Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure. The right flank scar issue has been remanded for further examination and rating.

The Veteran's left eye disability, including corneal and chorioretinal scar and eye pain, is granted with a 10 percent rating. A separate 10 percent rating is also granted for eye pain and headaches. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the impact of his COPD on employment and a need for further examination to separate PTSD symptoms from those caused by COPD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for issues related to surgical scars post bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy and service connection for a left arm condition. The remaining claims of entitlement to increased ratings for shoulder disabilities, inguinal hernia, pes planus, and leg conditions are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding increased ratings for painful residual scar, right foot and right foot pes planus as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and the need for clarification regarding the Veteran's eye scar, including whether it had visible or palpable tissue loss at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, kidney disability, urinary disability, right leg muscle disability, esophageal/gastrointestinal disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right ankle scar.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left lower thigh scar was denied because he failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of one or both hands, and therefore he is not eligible for financial assistance for an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his reported symptoms and diagnoses. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical opinions on whether his cicada sounds in the ears are related to otitis externa, or if they represent a separate condition. Additionally, he is asked to provide clarification regarding his right eye disability, including any scars from an in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for neck scars, bilateral metatarsalgia with hallux valgus, bilateral pes planus with callus formation, and migraine headaches have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for a higher rating for his pilonidal cystectomy scar on the sacrum, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's use of hydrocortisone 1% cream, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% cream, and miconazole nitrate 2% cream for service-connected skin conditions is approved as a clothing allowance for the year 2013.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded for additional examination and rating considerations.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral inguinal hernia, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating as the Veteran's hernias were not well supported by truss or belt and not considered inoperable.,The Board also denied an increased rating for residual scars from inguinal hernia repairs. The VA examiners found no unstable or painful scars, and the scars did not cover areas of at least 6 square inches (39 sq. cm.).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding pre-existing acne. The Veteran's claim for service connection for acne, including residual scarring, is now pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, asthma, bilateral pes planus, and others, have prevented her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 26, 2014.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for scars on the right chest was granted from July 30, 2013 to March 19, 2014. Since then, his claim has been denied as there is no evidence of painful or unstable scars that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae, scars of the face and neck, and TDIU prior to June 7, 2016 due to inadequate examination reports. Further evaluations are needed.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding a higher initial disability rating for the service-connected back scar and an earlier effective date for service connection. The reduction from 40% to 20% in the disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was found proper based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the January 2016 rating decision.