Scars Board decisions

Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for circumcision scarring is denied.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for right shoulder rotator cuff tear, subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis (claimed as right shoulder disability) secondary to service-connected left ankle sprain with instability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thyroid disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residual facial scar with numbness secondary to skin cancer of the right temple and asthma were denied. The claim for choroidal melanoma, left eye was remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for TMJ, facial scar, headaches as secondary to TMJ, and low back disability on a direct basis.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% rating, effective April 22, 2020. The Veteran’s painful left thumb scar remains at a 10% rating. Service connection for the back disability and substance use disorder secondary to PTSD are granted. The Board remanded service connection claims for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and musculoskeletal pain.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee replacement, status post osteoarthritis, is secondary to his service-connected residuals of right great toe fracture and/or service-connected right knee replacement, status post osteoarthritis. The issue of entitlement to service connection for painful scars, as secondary to left knee replacement, remains remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left forehead scar is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left shoulder disability and other conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to the severity of his disabilities. The Board found that he was unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has granted service connection for athlete's foot and scar disabilities, but has remanded the cases of back disability, dental condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, and joint and muscle pain.

The Veteran's TDIU is denied as his date of entitlement to a schedular TDIU is March 31, 2018. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the economic component of a TDIU prior to March 30, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and will be considered on the merits. The Board is unable to make a fully-informed decision without additional medical evidence regarding whether his current psychiatric condition is related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current disability in either ear, and any pre-existing left ear hearing loss did not worsen during service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for various rating claims due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure the AOJ substantially complies with prior remand directives and affords the Veteran adequate examinations of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and outstanding private medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a left knee scar is denied, and his rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability prior to July 7, 2020 is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his representation through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a thyroid disorder is granted, and he is assigned an initial schedular rating of 100 percent for PTSD. The claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, neck disability, forehead scar, left hand scar, and forehead scar are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, low back disability, right elbow scar, tinea pedis with tinea cruris, and duodenal ulcer. However, due to additional development needed, these claims are being remanded.