Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and chronic recurring headaches, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 for right knee, status post open reduction internal fixation and left knee, status post open reduction internal fixation. The issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant due to his combined rating and lack of total disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scars of the head, face, and neck are all inextricably intertwined. The case is remanded to provide a VA examination that includes color photographs of the left ear.

The Veteran's claims for bipolar disorder, dry eye syndrome, and lung disability were denied. The Veteran's ulcer, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis (claimed as stomach pain), GERD, residuals of a cholecystectomy, and kidney stones were all remanded.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for any of the conditions he claimed.

The Board has remanded the restoration of service connection for several conditions, including cervical spine arthritis, bilateral shoulder arthritis, lumbar spine DDD, right thumb arthritis, and post-surgical scars. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of the assigned disability ratings have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right eye disorder, finding that his pre-existing right eye chorioretinitis was not presumed to have been aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and COPD is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The claims for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating from January 15, 2020. The case is remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU for the period prior to January 15, 2020.

The Veteran's initial higher rating claims for scars of the nose, left temple, and anterior chest have been remanded due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's right leg scar was not shown to be painful or unstable, and measured no larger than 1.5 cm. The Board denied a compensable rating for the scar.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's osteopenia of the right leg (tibia/fibula) is not related to service, nor caused by any service-connected disability. The examiner also found no aggravation of the condition by any service-connected disability.

The Board has denied a compensable evaluation for the postoperative inguinal hernia repair with a scar and has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has denied increased ratings for various conditions, including right knee disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's service connection claims are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's hearing loss, right index finger scar, and lumbosacral strain have increased in severity since his last VA examinations. The Board has ordered remand for the Veteran to be provided with new VA examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for separate compensable evaluations for various scars and shrapnel wounds have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent from May 31, 2018. He also received a grant of service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy with an effective date of February 25, 2019, and a scar, status post cervical fusion with an effective date of December 28, 2016.