Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was remanded before, but he could not be examined due to incarceration. The Board now finds another examination is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his left and right foot scars, associated with hammertoe surgery. The scars were found to be superficial and not painful or unstable.

The Board denied service connection for right tonsil squamous cell carcinoma with right neck metastasis due to Agent Orange exposure, as well as secondary service connection for jawbone implantation, speech impediment, throat scarring, facial scarring, and bone graft scar right leg and skin graft scar left leg.,The denial is based on the lack of a link between the Veteran's conditions and his in-service herbicide exposure.

The case is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected left thigh scars.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The claims will be readjudicated after rescheduling the missed examinations.

The appeal for initial compensable disability ratings for various conditions, including a scar on the bridge of nose as a residual of nose fracture and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected broken nose, is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for tuberculosis residuals and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for Barrett’s disease, status post removal of the gall bladder, and left ear hearing loss. The Board also remanded issues regarding scar on the abdomen (secondary to status post removal of the gall bladder) and bilateral tibial axonal neuropathy.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a scar on his abdomen is denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and residual scar to the right side of the anterior chest wall s/p surgery are granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety) is also granted.

The Veteran's left breast scar is not considered disabling and does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The Veteran’s right ovarian cyst does not require continuous treatment and does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The Veteran’s migraines do not have characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months, thus not meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The Veteran's acne on her face, chest, and back is superficial and does not cover an area of 144 square inches or greater, thus not meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral spine strain and degenerative disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee meniscectomy residuals, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, right knee recurrent subluxation, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, tinnitus, and other conditions, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and a residual scar associated with prostate cancer, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined disability rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg stress fracture, right knee disability, and generalized arthritis have been denied. The claim for residuals of bilateral inguinal hernia has resulted in a denial with respect to the initial rating assigned but granted a non-compensable rating prior to August 21, 2009, and a 10 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether he is entitled to a compensable rating for right foot pes planus.

The Veteran's back condition is denied as not related to service.,The Veteran's right upper extremity CTS with median nerve compressive neuropathy does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 30 percent.,The Veteran's left upper extremity CTS s/p carpal tunnel release with residual scar does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for postoperative surgical scars and an increased evaluation for postoperative residuals are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for depressive disorder with anxious mood (PTSD) is denied as the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.,The Veteran's right hypothenar eminence scar does not warrant a compensable disability rating due to lack of other disabling effects not considered under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.,The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for ataxia cerebellar with diplopia and dysarthria is remanded as the onset date of the condition needs clarification, and authorization to obtain relevant private treatment records is required.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded due to his assertion that he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a scar status post colon resection prior to February 12, 2020 is denied.,Service connection for a skin rash disability secondary to his service-connected scar status post colon resection is granted. The Board finds that the current skin rash existed during the rating period and was proximately due to or the result of his service-connected scar status post colon resection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 18, 2008. From January 18, 2008 onward, the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.