Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for decreased sensation, periorbital area - fifth cranial nerve/trigeminal has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his deviated septum is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right forearm condition (also claimed as numbness and painful scar) is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for opioid use disorder (to include residuals of such disorder) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for bladder cancer and scar, supra-pubic ostomy are still on appeal. The AOJ is required to issue a SOC addressing these issues and remand them for further development.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia and residual scar are not rated as compensable due to the absence of recurrent or well-supported conditions, and the scar is not large enough for a 10% rating.

The Veteran's anterior trunk scars, residuals of postoperative gynecomastia, are rated at a compensable level (10%) since January 21, 2019. The rating is not higher as there is no evidence showing the scars are unstable or painful and do not cover an area of 144 square inches.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied across multiple conditions, including left foot hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, pes planus, and plantar fasciitis; right shoulder and left foot scars; residuals of lung cancer (status post right upper lobectomy and tube thoracotomy with emphysema); and muscle tension dyspenia. The Veteran's tinnitus appeal was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on housebound status was denied because he did not meet the statutory requirements for payment of SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is precluded from obtaining or maintaining any gainful occupation due solely to these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD, hysterectomy, and hysterectomy scar are denied. The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated examinations and a statement of the case regarding her right wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to incomplete VA treatment records, insufficient examination opinions, and need for additional medical evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected scars, including those from his back surgery and appendectomy, are rated at 20 percent. The Board found the scars to be painful and granted a higher rating than previously assigned.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disability other than right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, right ankle arthritis, right foot arthritis, right thigh shrapnel injury, and right thigh scars due to a shrapnel injury. The claim for PVD of the left leg is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further medical examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease and scar, status post coronary artery bypass graft.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to self-care for some daily personal needs and to protect herself from the hazards of daily life without the assistance of another person, warranting SMC based on the need for A&A.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective July 18, 2017.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for right elbow tendonitis. The Veteran's right elbow disability is remanded due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file.

The Veteran's SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted, as he requires assistance with dressing and preparing meals due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, post thoracotomy pain syndrome, and tender long thoracotomy scar with cross shaped scars due to additional delay caused by new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, squamous cell carcinoma of the left parotid gland, and facial scars due to cancer surgery. The Veteran asserts that these conditions are related to herbicide exposure during active service in Vietnam. Additional development is needed to confirm whether the Veteran served at Bien Hoa in 1972 as he claims.