Scars Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, left knee arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, lumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, hiatal hernia, left elbow dislocation, hypertension, hemorrhoids, post laceration of the right thigh with residual scar, and right shoulder surgical scar associated with right shoulder arthritis. As a result, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% evaluation, effective October 11, 2019. The other conditions were denied increased ratings.

The reduction from a 50% to a 30% rating for PTSD was not proper, and the original 50% rating is restored.,PTSD remains rated at 50%, while the cesarean scar rating is unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran withdrew all of his claims, including those related to service connection for various disabilities and initial ratings.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for scar tissue of the breast, anxiety, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and nerve pain are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left eye aphakia and corneal scar, post-traumatic and post-operative, has not been productive of muscle dysfunction or impairment of visual acuity. The disability is currently rated at 30 percent under DC 6029 for aphakia, which is the maximum rating available for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his scars, and his residuals of a right little finger fracture do not warrant an increase in evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal of his service connection claims for erectile dysfunction and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a residual scar on the right buttock has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's cholecystectomy scar, finding that it is painful and causes limited range of motion. The decision does not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and earlier effective dates, including for her heart condition, left shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, and limitation of motion in her elbows. The specific nature of these issues is not provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has denied service connection for a left long finger scar, arthritis, and paresthesias/dysesthesias. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's migraine headaches and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues have been dismissed.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for his left knee condition from 40 percent to 40 percent effective November 1, 2019, as the evidence did not show sustained improvement in his condition that would warrant a lower rating.

The Veteran's residuals of a laceration to the left hand and left hand scar are rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not show deep or limited motion scars exceeding 12 square inches.

The Veteran's bladder cancer and residual scarring as secondary to bladder cancer are remanded for further examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to prostatectomy is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lung disorder, increased ratings for right and left knee disorders, and compensable ratings for scars associated with those conditions. The Veteran's military occupational specialty (MOS) and service are being reviewed to determine if asbestos exposure resulted in his current lung disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right foot scar. The Veteran is required to provide a medical opinion linking her current condition to service.