Scars Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, bilateral arm neuropathy, and respiratory disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was granted for a scar of the left exterior upper lip.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current respiratory disability, hearing loss of the right ear, or right ankle disability. The Veteran also did not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, right index finger metacarpal fracture, left ear hearing loss disability, positive tuberculosis skin test, hypertension, hemorrhoids, scars of the right knee, left ankle, and tailbone, or hidradenitis suppurativa. The Veteran's TBI claim was granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available.,Ischemic Heart Disease prior to February 9, 2016, and thereafter are both rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the lower extremities. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are currently rated at 90 percent combined.

Service connection for skin cancer is granted. Service connection for back condition and left shoulder scarring/disfigurement are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than specific phobia was denied. The reduction from a 100 percent to a 20 percent rating for his left shoulder disability, status post arthroscopic surgery, effective February 1, 2016, was upheld. His claims for higher ratings for the left shoulder and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis were denied. His claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied. The Veteran's specific phobia, bilateral hearing loss, cholecystectomy residuals, cholecystectomy scars, and right knee scars all received initial compensable ratings. Finally, his TDIU claim was denied.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's pilonidal cyst and scars due to incomplete documentation of convalescence periods following surgical procedures.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder rotator cuff reconstruction, recurrent enteritis, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate is granted as of March 21, 2013. SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person is also granted as of April 15, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment since August 1, 2015.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess his PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, right thumb infection with arthritis and need for reconstruction, erectile dysfunction, scar associated with right thumb infection, and sleep apnea. The issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, right thumb infection with arthritis and need for reconstruction, erectile dysfunction, scar associated with right thumb infection, and sleep apnea are all remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular level of 50 percent. The Veteran’s painful, tender scar status post removal of ganglion cyst of the left wrist is currently rated at 10 percent prior to April 16, 2019 and denied for staged rating in excess of 10 percent from that date. The Veteran's linear scar of the left wrist has a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck and left shoulder conditions secondary to a gunshot wound, as well as TDIU. The neck scar is currently rated 10% prior to July 8, 2019, and no higher.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected residual scars from basal cell carcinoma has been granted, with an effective date of February 1, 2004. The Veteran was awarded a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including weakened lungs, scarring of the lungs, granulomas, and weakened immune system due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's post-operative residual scar from his epigastric/umbilical hernia repair is rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7804. The Board found that the scars are painful but not unstable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including back and right ankle conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's in-service exposure to cadmium, bacillus globigii, and beta-propiolactone. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 22, 2019. From February 22, 2019, the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.