Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, corneal scarring as a residual of right eye keratitis, tinea versicolor, and residuals of a right thumb fracture due to incomplete development. The Veteran is encouraged to provide information about all sources of private medical care during the appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection is dismissed as moot because the earliest possible effective date, November 1, 2012, has already been granted. The Board finds no error of fact or law to consider.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinea pedis, a bilateral knee disability, a low back disability, and a burn scar of the left shoulder. The Veteran's symptoms were observed in-service and have continued to present post-service.

The appeal for higher initial and extra-schedular disability ratings for a right eye corneal scar is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and further development of the record.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a right leg injury (scar), and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran did not meet the requirements for exposure to herbicides for Air Force veterans who served on or near the perimeter of air bases in Thailand.,The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus type II during service, and there was no credible evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his right knee scar disability rating from 10% to 0% effective October 1, 2015 has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected scars over the right eye and behind the left ear are rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7800 due to lack of visible or palpable tissue loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits due to his not having a serious employment handicap and his eligibility period ending on August 11, 2008.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, lumbar spine disorder, and inner lower lip scar due to inadequate VA examinations and missing service personnel records.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's knee and TDIU claims due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during their pendency.

The Veteran's service-connected shrapnel scars of the right and left thighs have been granted a 10 percent rating, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as for a painful right knee scar. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left hand surgical scarring, cervical spine arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The rating for left hand surgical scarring remains at 10%. The rating for cervical spine arthritis has been increased to 10%. Bilateral hearing loss is now considered a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of nonspecific urethritis (prior to July 30, 2019), and residuals of nonspecific urethritis (since July 30, 2019) were denied. The claim for service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder was also denied.,The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for various conditions and seeking initial ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings. The Board has remanded these matters to obtain additional examinations and evidence.,The Veteran is seeking an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability, hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression), and lumbar disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his military exposure history.

The Veteran's cervical neck disability is rated at 30 percent, effective as of the date of this decision. The initial compensable rating for his neck scar was denied.

The Veteran's right eye corneal ulcer with corneal scarring does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, that manifested in service or is otherwise related thereto.