Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected scars of the knees and scar, post-operative residuals of left inguinal hernia are not rated higher due to their current manifestations. The separate rating for painful scars associated with the knees and left inguinal hernia is upheld.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence indicating current disabilities of hearing loss and scarring of the right upper arm that may be associated with events during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a nexus between his in-service consumption of starchy food and his current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II, nor could it be presumed as chronic or continuous due to lack of in-service manifestations. The remaining issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's residual scar of the back is granted a 10% rating effective April 6, 2015. The Veteran's residuals of a left laminectomy at L4-5 are denied as his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for scar residuals of head trauma, but the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and TBI have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypogeusia and scars of the anterior trunk and bilateral underarms are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scars and hallux rigidus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied in January 1982, March 2009, and the decisions are final.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for his left eye scar requires further development due to incomplete medical records and conflicting examination results.

The Board has remanded the case due to a raised issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status. The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC at level S, but may still qualify for SMC if he is permanently housebound.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various service-connected conditions, including a higher rating for posterior fossa tumor ependymoma and left wrist neuropathy, as well as claims for earlier effective dates. The AOJ has remanded several of these issues due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for his right shoulder surgical scar. The Board has also determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for seizure disorder and vision problems.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and coronary artery disease, prior to July 22, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's right eye disability and bilateral tubal litigation are not service-connected due to dishonorable service.,The Veteran's residual scarring from a C-section is not service-connected due to dishonorable service.,Service connection for a right eye disability, bilateral tubal litigation, and residual scarring secondary to C-section is denied.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability is remanded for further development.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded for further development.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD are remanded for further development.,Total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.,The Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable rating for lipomas, bilateral upper and lower extremities prior to January 12, 2022, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter.,The Board denied entitlement to a separate compensable rating for right upper extremity residual scars associated with lipomas.,The Board denied entitlement to a separate compensable rating for left upper extremity residual scars associated with lipomas.,The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent, and no higher, for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal fusion prior to January 11, 2022.,The Board denied entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and spinal fusion from January 12, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for scar, right knee and a higher rating for painful scars of the right knee and left thumb is remanded due to conflicting ratings assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records, particularly regarding the Veteran's service-connected left wrist scar from August 8, 1988 through February 7, 2007. The TDIU claim is also referred to VA's Director of Compensation for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his scar, and for the propriety of reducing the rating as of December 1, 2018. Additional evidence was added after the October 2020 Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left eye disabilities, including keratoconus. The case will be reviewed with additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his scar of the left foot, excision pressure ulcer was denied as there is no evidence of underlying soft tissue damage or instability/pain.