Scars Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right inguinal hernia disability with a scar, including whether he was given a truss by his VA provider.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his 10% disability rating for residuals of a scar on the left little finger was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that he experienced the required symptomatology prior to February 25, 2009.,An effective date of December 10, 2008 was granted for his service connection and 20% disability rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy. The earlier effective date is due to the first objective evidence of radiculopathy on December 10, 2008.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his 30% disability rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that he experienced the required symptomatology prior to March 19, 2013.

The Veteran withdrew all remaining issues associated with his appeal, including those related to surgical scars of a painful left knee, right hip strain, instability of the left knee, and left knee stable joint. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's request for a higher disability rating for his service-connected superficial, stable scars on the right lower leg is remanded due to inadequate evidence from a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for his daily needs, requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board finds that he needed assistance with all activities of daily living due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 18, 2014. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU have been met and grants the claim.

The Board found that discontinuance of VR&E services based on a negative feasibility determination was proper due to the Veteran's significant physical health issues and extensive limitations in his activities. The appeal is denied.

The Board has denied the initial compensable rating for cervical and lumbar spine surgery scars, but has remanded the SMC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board found that the Veteran's right inguinal scar had improved and reduced his disability rating from 10% to noncompensable effective May 1, 2018.

The Board has granted a compensable evaluation for the right shoulder scar and has remanded cases involving asthma and sinusitis or rhinitis due to lack of medical opinion on their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU for the period prior to May 8, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 12, 2013, for a higher rating of 10 percent for his service-connected right ankle shrapnel wound with scar. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran became eligible for an increased rating within one year prior to the receipt of his claim on June 12, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings due to inadequate examinations, and to obtain updated VA treatment records.

Effective October 1, 2014, the Veteran was granted service connection for right and left knee injuries (patellar/quadriceps tendon ruptures), bilateral knee scars, and an anxiety disorder. Effective October 1, 2014, he also received separate 10% ratings for right and left knee instability.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded as there are no prior unadjudicated claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected post-operative right foot linear scars is remanded due to the need for a VA scar examination and the provision of additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a facial skin condition and a skin disorder of the back, shoulders, chest, and stomach have been denied. The claim for PTSD has been remanded due to the need to verify an in-service stressor.,Service connection is not granted for any of the conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s dysthymic disorder warrants a 70% rating, but not higher, prior to August 28, 2007. For periods after August 28, 2007, his dysthymic disorder is rated as 70%. His chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and tender scalp scar are both rated at the current levels of 20% and 10%, respectively. The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle pain, joint pain, sleep apnea, and TDIU were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right-hand disability (claimed as scars on right hand) is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his condition and whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and an updated examination of the Veteran's scar status post cyst removal.