Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's right fifth finger scar, claimed as incurred in service, is denied due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between the injury and service.,PTSD is rated at 30 percent, with no higher rating granted based on current symptoms not meeting criteria for a higher rating.,Tinea cruris does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it affects less than 5% of his total body area.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability and a left wrist scar, finding that the earliest post-service evidence of these disabilities is more than 25 years after separation from service. The Veteran's STRs did not document any left wrist injury or chronic complaints.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 28, 2013 was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected right hip disability prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The claim for an effective date prior to June 28, 2013 for Dependents' Educational Assistance was also denied due to lack of a qualifying disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted. The housebound claim is dismissed due to the grant of SMC by reason of regular need for aid and attendance. The claims for increased evaluations for coronary artery disease and left knee arthroscopy are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of December 26, 2007. The Board granted effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits based on this determination.

The Board has restored the previous ratings for scars, right knee, traumatic arthritis with limited flexion, and limitation of extension, all at 20 percent, effective September 1, 2015 to October 22, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's initial rating for the painful left hand laceration residual scar is denied, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, nor did they cause him to be permanently housebound or at the housebound rate prior to February 8, 2017; or from June 1, 2017, to December 22, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for osteoarthritis of the left first MTP joint is granted, and his initial rating for a left fifth toe scar is also granted. However, the effective date for service connection remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and other procedural issues. The Veteran is also being referred for a TDIU determination prior to July 22, 2020.

The Veteran's residual thyroidectomy scar is rated at a 10 percent rating, effective June 25, 2014. She also receives a separate 30 percent rating for difficulty swallowing as a disabling effect from the service-connected residual thyroidectomy scar.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for burn scars of the right and left arms, finding that the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's skin disability rating criteria.,Service connection was also denied for a right forearm disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and bronchial asthma.

The Veteran's neck scarring and left hip scar are not rated higher than the current levels. A separate rating of 10 percent for loss of taste associated with post-laryngectomy cancer is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability (claimed as glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II) because the evidence did not support a finding that it was proximately due to or aggravated by another service-connected condition.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent disability rating for left ankle scar is granted. The Board finds that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding his increased disability rating for left ankle disability, service connection for left foot disability secondary to service-connected left ankle disability, temporary total evaluation for left plantar instep fasciotomy, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in failing to schedule him for a VA Scars/Disfigurement examination, which was necessary to properly rate his service-connected skin cancer and scars.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a failure to provide an adequate examination and consideration of her contentions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and shrapnel wound scarring of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to incomplete or insufficient medical opinions. The VA will obtain additional examinations and opinions as needed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for ratings related to chronic kidney disease, right shoulder disability, right shoulder scar, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is dismissed.