Scars Board decisions

An effective date earlier than October 12, 2017, for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder is denied.,An effective date earlier than January 16, 2015, for the award of service connection for a left knee scar is denied.,An effective date earlier than September 24, 2010, for the award of service connection for a right knee scar is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is not shown to have caused or aggravated any low back, left hip, or right hip disabilities.,Service connection for the Veteran’s claimed disabilities has been denied as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 4, 2004 for the service connection of coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary bypass surgery grafting scar, right leg, coronary bypass surgery scar, chest, and coronary bypass surgery grafting scar, left leg.

The Veteran's scalp folliculitis (acne) with keloid formation and scars from head to toe, linear scars from head to toe, and scars of the anterior trunk region, cholecystectomy with scar are not rated higher than their current levels.,Effective dates for increased ratings or service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disorder and lower abdomen pain, all of which are secondary to residuals of colon cancer. The decision is pending further review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of both the reduction in disability rating and the increased evaluation claim. The Veteran's private medical records are requested to determine if his scar has changed since service connection was established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right leg amputation below the knee, adjustment disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, right leg scars, and back disability, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not include hypertension, and the Board is remanding this issue for further development.,Service connection for hypertension is being remanded as it was not addressed in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his active duty periods and the relationship between his current conditions and military service. The AOJ must verify the Veteran’s ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA dates, obtain addendum medical opinions, and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding several disability ratings, effectively dismissing the cases.

The Veteran's service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, coronary artery disease, and painful sternotomy scar was granted with an effective date of August 20, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, vertigo, knee instability, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the left knee surgical scar at 10 percent, and he was granted TDIU. The issues of a higher rating for PTSD and a compensable rating for the left knee scar are remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle scar is granted as service-connected, but his right ankle disorder and right foot disorder are denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is remanded.

The Board dismissed all the issues related to service connection and compensation for various disabilities, including hearing loss, back injury, scars, paralysis of upper and lower extremities, and TDIU. The decision also noted that the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded both issues related to the Veteran's right ankle scar disability rating and his compensation based on incarceration. The first issue is whether the reduction of the Veteran’s disability rating for a right ankle scar from 10 percent to 0 percent was proper, while the second issue is whether the reduction of the Veteran’s compensation benefits based on incarceration was proper.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 22, 2015 due to lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities alone or in combination have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation. The issue of service connection for left knee disability as secondary to right knee torn medial meniscus status post arthroscopy surgery with surgical scar is remanded for an addendum opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for scars, right knee injuries, and right shoulder injuries. Service connection for vasectomy residuals is remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective July 18, 2011, as he has been unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since that date.

The Veteran's flatfoot (pes planus) and migraine, including migraine variants (claimed as tension headaches), are found to be related to his service. The remaining claims for service connection have been remanded.,Service connection is granted for flatfoot (pes planus) and migraine, including migraine variants (claimed as tension headaches).