Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The Board has granted a 10% rating for the back and right wrist scars from January 22, 2018 onwards.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is linked to his additional disabilities, including bowel injury and abdominal hernia. The Board grants service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's chronic back pain is attributed to the complications from his surgeries, specifically the robotic prostatectomy. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for prostate cancer was granted with an effective date of November 24, 2014.,The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and scars, status post prostatectomy were both granted with an effective date of December 8, 2014.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates were withdrawn.,A 10 percent rating was granted for a scar, status post herniorrhaphy. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his psychiatric conditions, hepatitis C, liver scarring, and headaches. The RO is instructed to obtain addendum opinions from appropriate psychologists or psychiatrists, clinicians, and a clinician.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure and maintain gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's increased rating for a left foot disability is granted at 30 percent, but no higher. The issues of service connection for back and left knee disabilities as secondary to the left foot disability are remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent since April 1, 2013.,Back/shoulder scars are not compensable.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability and a skin disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 3, 2021. The evidence did not show that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for a service-connected anterior left shoulder scar has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for TMJ disorder with bruxism and remanded the issues of a compensable disability rating for chorioretinal scar of the left eye, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to October 5, 2017, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of chip fracture of the right ankle, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as there is no evidence showing that his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right calcaneal spur is granted service connection. The claims for left ankle, right ankle, and left little finger disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot disability and surgical scar, right foot. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for Parkinson's Disease, Ischemic Heart Disease, Prostate Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, Hypertension, and Scars due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the severity of his left forearm scar, left ulnar nerve neuropathy, and residuals of lumbar radiculopathy post-surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) from May 7, 2012 to February 25, 2013 and on and after July 22, 2020. The case is being referred to the Director of the Compensation Service for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's LUE peripheral nerve impairment, associated with left hand scars, is granted a 30 percent rating effective February 3, 2022. The earlier effective date of December 28, 2010 for the grant of service connection for this condition is also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of her complete service treatment records.