Scars Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot condition and scar are not related to service, and thus denied her claim for service connection. The right foot issues have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's low back scar is rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under Code 7804.

The Veteran's left knee scars associated with left knee chondromalacia status post meniscal repair were denied a compensable evaluation from October 22, 2013 to November 27, 2017.,A 10 percent evaluation was granted for the left knee scar from November 28, 2017 to April 6, 2021 due to pain.,The Veteran's left knee scars associated with left knee chondromalacia status post meniscal repair were denied a compensable evaluation from April 7, 2021 to the present.,For left knee chondromalacia status post meniscal repair under DC 5259, no higher than a 10 percent rating was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left and right knee injuries and tibia-fibular fractures, have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 17, 2021. His long history of employment despite these conditions indicates he is capable of performing the type of work required for his job.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to June 1, 2015, and in excess of 30 percent from that date, for degenerative disc disease cervical spine; and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for scar, status-post spinal stimulator installation. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for thoracic outlet syndrome, left side.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to an 80 percent evaluation, but he does not have an employment handicap for VA vocational rehabilitation purposes and is therefore denied VR&E benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates of service connection for scar on left thorax status post nephrectomy and erectile dysfunction associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding that no material improvement in disability was shown under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's left shoulder tendinitis and scar are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating may be warranted based on additional evidence. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and opinions regarding his kidney condition, cancer, scars, and vision loss.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for burn scars of the left leg and groin is granted. The case is remanded for further examination to determine if additional disabling effects warrant a separate compensable rating, and for new examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD with major depressive disorder and mild neurocognitive disorder, as well as TBI residuals.

The Veteran's scar on his left dorsal wrist is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to its pain and hypersensitivity.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his right foot status post neuroma excision with residual scar, metatarsalgia, and claw foot (pes cavus) has been granted at a 20 percent level.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee disability has been dismissed.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted, and the issue of service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.,The Veteran has multiple new and material evidence-based claims that require additional VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial request for a compensable rating for her right wrist scar from August 1, 2014 to October 16, 2018 was denied. From October 17, 2018, the Veteran received a 10 percent rating for her painful right wrist scar.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a supplemental VA opinion. The Veteran's claim is related to complications from urodynamics performed at the VA Medical Center on March 2, 2015.

The Veteran's right wrist arthritis and scar have been continuously rated at 10 percent since the appellate period began, with no higher ratings granted.,There is currently no evidence of ankylosis in the right wrist, which would allow for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5214.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's earlier effective date claim for his left eye scar, as August 29, 2011 is considered the earliest available effective date.,The reduction of the Veteran's left knee rating from 50% to 30% was found proper based on improvement in his condition since October 27, 2016 when he underwent total knee replacement.