Scars Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for aortic stenosis and scar from tracheostomy, but granted an increased rating for scars/surgical scars of the anterior trunk and painful scar of the anterior trunk. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Veteran's left nose scar is rated at 30 percent, and his lumbosacral spine strain remains at a 10 percent rating. The decision on the increased rating for lumbosacral spine strain was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 31, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for left and right foot scars, as well as higher ratings for his hallux valgus conditions and depressive disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including heart disorder, various types of peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected left wrist, right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of osteochondroma of the right humerus, including scars is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for his scar, status-post right hernia repairs, or for his bilateral hearing loss, right knee scar, tinnitus, PTSD, status-post right knee replacement, or chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his service-connected right ankle disability and any related right knee and hip disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 1, 2004 for the grant of a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities making him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, initial ratings for left and right knee disabilities, and TDIU due to incomplete examination reports and lack of addressing certain aspects in previous examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an equipment purchase of an adjustable king or queen size bed and ergonomic chair through the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) program, finding that such purchases were not necessary to achieve his independent living goal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective VA assessment of the cumulative impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to perform the duties associated with his former career as a truck driver.

Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's right lower extremity scar is not rated higher than 10 percent, as the evidence does not support a finding of instability or pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employment.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is rated at a 20 percent disability rating, and his left ankle surgical scar is rated at a noncompensable (0%) disability rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals for initial evaluations in excess of 20 percent and 30 percent for scars, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and service connection for lumbar spine disorder due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain informed consent records related to the Veteran's August 2017 right ankle fusion procedure. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation of right foot scars, entitlement to a temporary total evaluation from June 1, 2018, for right ankle strain status-post fusion, and entitlement to special monthly compensation at the 's' rate are all pending.

The Veteran's hypertension, asthma, right and left knee disabilities, and leg scars are not service-connected as they did not develop during or as a result of his military service.,Service connection for the Veteran’s claimed conditions is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for total abdominal hysterectomy was denied.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for benign leiomyomas, previously rated as a scar and FSAD associated with total abdominal hysterectomy, is not earlier than March 29, 2018.