Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his painful surgical scar of the right groin, residual inguinal hernia repair is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his right groin, residual inguinal hernia repair is denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.,The Veteran's service connection claim for OSA is remanded.,The Veteran's separate rating claim for chronic pain syndrome is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for mitral valve prolapse and lung condition (including scarring). Service connection is also remanded for adjustment disorder with depressed mood and dental condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD rated at 50%, resulted in a combined rating of 90% from October 13, 2016 to October 13, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU rating for this period based on the severity and cumulative effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating and a higher rating for his right ankle disorder due to incomplete VA examination reports. The Veteran is also asked to attend another VA examination to address whether he has developed a separate and distinct foot disorder from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left shoulder disability and tinnitus, render him unemployable. The Board granted total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Board dismisses the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for diabetes with ED. The appeals for peripheral neuropathy and SMC are denied.

The appeal of service connection for a residual scar, status-post laceration, head injury is dismissed. The claims for service connection for vein disorders of the bilateral legs and migraines are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support higher ratings for his right knee disabilities or service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,His left foot bunionectomy and residual scar are currently rated appropriately, with no higher schedular rating being warranted.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability and increased ratings for various conditions, including UARS. The Board found no evidence supporting the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability and granted a minimum compensable rating for UARS.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right wrist scar, finding that there was no evidence of painful or unstable scarring. The Veteran's pain and limitation of motion were attributed to other conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee condition and a right knee scar due to potential secondary service connection to his service-connected total left knee replacement. The case is being returned for further development, including an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the August 2020 examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed residuals of chest injury and the current severity of his service-connected scarring in his chest. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for his service-connected back scar is denied. The reduction of his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (back disability) from 40% to 20% is upheld, and he is denied a higher rating for the same condition. His entitlement to special monthly compensation based on loss of use of his right foot is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess his eczema and keloid scars. The GERD claim is also referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's right eye disability was previously rated as noncompensable prior to March 11, 2019. As of March 11, 2019, the rating for his condition has been increased to 20 percent but remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 16, 2016 due to a lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of May 1, 1967 for the awards of service connection for residuals of recurrent dislocation and status post Magnuson procedure of the right shoulder and a right shoulder scar.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pyelonephritis with kidney scarring substantially contributed to his death from myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10% rating for his residual surgical scar from February 13, 2009 to December 14, 2014. The Veteran’s left shoulder disability has been rated as noncompensable prior to October 3, 2013, and at 20% thereafter.,The Board found that the Veteran's residual surgical scar does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.