Scars Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral corneal scars and bilateral dry eyes, finding that the Veteran's in-service eye injury resulted in these disabilities. Service connection was also granted for skin disabilities (atopic dermatitis, eczema, and basal cell carcinoma), but with a note that it is less likely related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain medical records. The issues of entitlement to service connection are related to the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, eczema, scarring alopecia, PFB, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, left elbow condition, and right elbow condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to 70 percent or more, so he does not qualify for a TDIU under the percentage requirements. The Board finds that there is a reasonable possibility of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities and remands the issue to the Director of Compensation Service for an opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for facial acne, which was reopened based on new evidence. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam is not at issue.

The Veteran's GERD disability is currently rated at the highest schedular rating of 60 percent, and there are no indications that an extraschedular rating is warranted.,The Veteran's eczema and keloid scars require further examination to determine appropriate ratings under both prior and current skin criteria.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected left eye disabilities, specifically his visual field defect.

The Veteran's left wrist disability and associated scar have not resulted in ankylosis or arthritis, but the Veteran continues to experience painful reduced range of motion. His claim for increased ratings is denied. The compensable rating for his residual scar remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for left hip scar, lip scar, cold weather injury residuals of bilateral hand, hemorrhoids, and menstrual condition (dysmenorrhea) have all been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,Service connection has not been established for any of the claimed conditions.

Service connection is granted for a left elbow disability and consequent left elbow and forearm scar.,Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder, TBI, left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, or cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to address the nature of the Veteran's skin condition and its impact on the rating criteria.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: an increased rating for neoplasm, malignant, left lumbar flank with scar and service connection for a left hip condition. The Veteran's disability is believed to have worsened since her last VA examination, and she did not attend the scheduled examination for her claimed left hip condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tension or muscle contraction headaches, hypertension, status post cholecystectomy, and abdominal scarring associated with the cholecystectomy. The issues of service connection for a right foot disability, left foot disability, right Achilles tendinitis, left Achilles tendinitis, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), jaundiced eyes with a residual left eye scar, and dermatitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to address the extent of any scarring in the retina and whether it is related to the Veteran's service-connected left eye disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and the need for further medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, requesting that his case be dismissed due to the withdrawal of his hearing request and issues on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reinstate a 10 percent rating for burn scars under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324, as the discontinuation of this rating was proper due to the assignment of a compensable rating for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, have not prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 13, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for herpes simplex virus is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of an in-service onset.,Service connection for the Pfannenstiel incision (scar) associated with herpes simplex virus is also denied due to lack of a link between the scar and any service-connected disability or disease.,The Veteran's GERD is not rated higher than 10 percent as it does not meet criteria for more severe manifestations such as persistent epigastric distress, pyrosis, substernal pain, or arm/shoulder pain.,For thoracolumbar IVDS with arthritis prior to December 11, 2019, the Veteran's disability is rated at 10 percent due to limitations in range of motion and no additional functional loss during flare-ups.,From December 11, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's thoracolumbar IVDS with arthritis warrants a rating of 40 percent as it results in more severe limitation of motion than before.,Right hip arthritis is rated at 10 percent due to limited range of motion and ability to cross legs. Left hip arthritis is also rated at 10 percent for similar reasons.,Bilateral corneal dystrophy with dry eye syndrome does not warrant a compensable rating as it only results in visual acuity impairment up to 20/40 bilaterally.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy and sensorimotor neuropathy prior to December 11, 2019 is rated at 10 percent due to mild incomplete paralysis. From that date onwards, it warrants a rating of 20 percent for moderate incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings are denied as the evidence does not support additional functional loss or impairment beyond what is already accounted for in her current disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported history and the absence of contemporaneous medical evidence. The issues are intertwined, so all related claims must be addressed together.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluations, and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.