Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education, prior work history and training.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a higher rating for tinnitus, left upper extremity radicular neuropathy, vascular headaches, epididymitis and testicle cyst condition, external hemorrhoids, and left arm scars. Service connection was granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for scars of the left upper back, status post excision basal cell carcinoma is denied.,The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for contact dermatitis, distal index fingers of the bilateral hands and rosacea are remanded. The Veteran's facial scars are also remanded for review.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for rosacea prior to February 6, 2020; and a rating in excess of 30 percent since February 6, 2020 is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for facial scars, residuals of treatment for basal cell carcinoma, prior to February 6, 2020; and a rating in excess of 10 percent since February 6, 2020 is remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a compensable rating for his residual right ankle surgical scar, and an increased evaluation for anxiety disability are all denied. The Veteran is already service-connected for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete examination reports and additional information is needed regarding the severity of the Veteran's right hip disability, left shoulder tear, and pain.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depression. The Veteran's right shoulder scar is rated at 10% under Diagnostic Code 7804. Further examination and development are needed to address the issues related to his left knee disability, effective date of service connection, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee replacement and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee scar is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The initial compensable rating for hearing loss in the left ear was denied, as did the claim for an increased disability rating for major depressive disorder during a specific period. The issues of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and surgical scars from left knee arthroscopic surgery had earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear auricle deformity is granted with an effective date of August 3, 2016. The claims for left eyebrow scar and bilateral eye condition are denied. The rating for right ear auricle deformity is increased to 30 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his scar and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional evidence is needed, including VA scars examination records and SSA disability determination records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and a temporary total disability rating. The main issue is that further medical examinations are needed due to the passage of time since previous evaluations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to inadequate VA examinations, and the Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings on his service-connected right knee disabilities remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination. The Veteran is currently service connected for PTSD, L5-S1 diskectomy, left fifth finger injury, and appendectomy.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected scars of the left lower lumbosacral lipoma has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye condition (loss of vision) and tinea corporis previously claimed as a skin condition have both been denied.

The Board has restored the 50% rating for facial scars and denied the restoration of a separate 10% rating for dermatophytosis, finding that the reduction was improper due to lack of improvement in ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, left knee injury, left calf injury, left leg shin splints, gallbladder removal with scar, right knee scar, and bilateral leg disability (including numbness, cellulitis, circulation problems, and water retention) have been granted. The claim for residuals of hepatitis and mononucleosis is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress has made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.