Scars Board decisions

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective June 24, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scar, residual status post right inguinal hernia repair and bilateral pes planus with chronic associated pain in limb were denied. The Veteran was rated at 10 percent for the scar and 50 percent for the pes planus, but both remain unchanged.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his claims for increased ratings and service connection due to a request from the Veteran's representative to withdraw all of the Veteran's appeals.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for residual hernia surgery scars and right ear condition is granted. The claims of entitlement to service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions are denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee scars warrant an increased rating of 20 percent, but denied his claim for a higher disability rating for his chondromalacia, left knee status post meniscectomy with instability (left knee disability) for the period from April 1, 2014, through April 27, 2016. The case is being remanded to allow further development and consideration of these issues.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's status post rectal fissure removal and pruritis with residual scar, finding that the disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board denied a separate compensable rating for a right knee limitation of motion due to scar, finding that the Veteran's scars do not result in any functional limitations of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying her claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 5, 2020.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection and rated at a noncompensable level.,A scar on the right fourth finger, causing numbness and pain, is granted a 10% rating.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected conditions, and the service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. Therefore, entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied, as well as service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's right ankle strain with achilles tendonitis of the right heel, chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease, lipoma of the lower back, chondromalacia of the right knee, chondromalacia of the left knee, and corneal scar and endothelial pigmentation of the right eye have been granted effective January 1, 1996. The Veteran's claim for lateral collateral ligament strain of the left ankle was dismissed as moot. The Veteran's claim for achilles tendonitis of the left heel associated with left ankle disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and melanocarcinoma residuals were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to his in-service noise exposure or encounters during deployment, and thus could not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's right wrist scar is currently rated at 10 percent for the period prior to October 15, 2020. The appeal for a higher rating is denied for the period from October 15, 2020 onward.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lung cancer, right lobectomy scar, and whether he requires aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and left ankle scar. The case is remanded to obtain an updated VA examination regarding the Veteran's hypertension claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for vertigo, COPD, and a skin disorder other than pseudofolliculitis barbae due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. A VA examination is required for each claim.

The Board has granted a 10% disability rating for the Veteran's right ankle scar, effective from February 24, 2020. The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination and missing private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and extraschedular considerations, as well as DIC benefits. The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and postoperative left shoulder scar disability are currently rated based on their service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed a motion to revise a February 20, 2020 decision due to lack of clear and unmistakable error. The June 2020 motion was about the effective date for a rating on painful scars associated with the face, but this issue remained pending before the RO.