Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his heart disability prior to July 30, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure or workload of greater than 3 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran has instability in his right knee. The current ratings for surgical scars of both knees and DJD with loss of extension are denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals related to the evaluation of various knee conditions and other issues, including automobile or adaptive equipment, specially adapted housing, temporary total evaluations for service-connected disabilities, and special monthly compensation. The Board is dismissing these appeals as a result.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for his right hip disability rating. The claims of service connection for hypertension, heart disability, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, and acid reflux have been reopened due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a compensable initial rating for scar, right knee, status post in-service surgery. The Veteran's service connection claim for post-operative right knee disability with traumatic arthritis was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various skin conditions, including eczema, dermatitis, and acrochordons (skin tags), as well as benign cysts and painful scars. The remand is due to inadequate examination findings and a potential secondary service connection issue related to diabetes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability, left arm vaccination scar, and initial rating for tension headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability, difficulty swallowing and cotton mouth, and left side neck scar. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has denied service connection for various scars and right knee arthritis, finding that there is no current disability or evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including those related to the Veteran's neck disorder, neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, hip disorder, sleep apnea, right knee surgical scar, traumatic arthritis of the right knee, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar strain with degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, foot disorders (pes planus, metatarsalgia, hammertoes, hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, and degenerative joint disease), and psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection and increased rating, as well as attorney fees in the amount of 20% of past-due benefits awarded. The appeal was denied only for the grant of an earlier effective date for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but his combined disability rating is sufficient to warrant consideration of extra-schedular TDIU. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for an examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his bilateral eye corneal scars to include right eye traumatic cataract. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of left indirect hernia repair and scar, status-post inguinal hernia repair due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and severity of his current symptoms. The reduction claim for the surgical scar is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's initial evaluation for service-connected scarring alopecia was assigned a noncompensable (zero percent) rating. The AOJ must request an appropriate VA examination to evaluate the severity of her disability and its impact on her employability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraines, acid reflux, lung condition (claimed as lung scarring), joint pain, and tooth deterioration for compensation purposes have all been denied.,There is insufficient evidence to support the Veteran’s claims of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has granted a separate rating of 10 percent for bilateral metatarsalgia.,A separate 10 percent evaluation is granted for hallux valgus of the right foot and left foot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of left-foot burn scar, residuals of left-hand burn scar, and left knee tendonitis. The Veteran's tinnitus and migraine headaches were also not found to be related to service.