Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for diabetes is granted. The claims of service connection for scar on head, residuals of broken nose, and chronic congestion (including sinusitis and rhinitis) are remanded.

The Veteran's right inguinal scar is granted a 10% rating from March 2, 2018. The left inguinal scar does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's right long finger subluxation of the PIP joint status-post dislocation with a residual scar, effective from April 29, 2013.

The Veteran's back scar is not considered for a compensable rating.,Effective December 25, 2013, the Veteran received increased ratings of 40 percent for low back strain with IVDS and 20 percent each for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, right middle finger scar, psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right thumb disability, and right shoulder disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to new evidence received since the April 2019 SOC. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his service connection for a residual scar from salivary gland stone removal and depressive disorder are being reviewed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim. The remaining issues of rating for left knee arthritis, left knee scar, and right knee scar are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left knee replacement scars has been remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records. The AOJ will review this evidence and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the cases of residuals of a thumb fracture, wound to the right testicle, scars due to gunshot wounds, and disabilities of the middle finger, ring finger, and knuckles of the right hand.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to address the Veteran's headaches and clarifying the assigned rating for his right knee surgical scar. The service connection claim for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's right breast gynecomastia status post lumpectomy with recurrent mass and scar was treated by local excisions that did not significantly alter the size or form of his breast, resulting in a denial of a compensable rating.,The Board has also reviewed the Veteran’s claim under Diagnostic Codes 7801, 7802, 7804, and 7805 for scars. A new VA examination is needed to address whether the left breast fibrosis (claimed as gynecomastia) is related to service or secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, low back disability, PTSD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back scar. The effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee scar was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection for painful, unstable scars of the chest, scar of the chest, and scars from vein harvest surgery are denied as they were not present prior to January 14, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent schedular rating for coronary artery disease is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 9, 2016 due to lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and higher ratings related to various skin, leg, knee, and shell fragment wound conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including anxiety, hip and knee disabilities, and hypothyroidism, have rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance due to her functional impairments. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected right arm injury scar from October 5, 2007 was granted. The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the same condition from April 9, 2019 and also denied a separate non-painful manifestation evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected surgical scar, left shoulder, associated with status post left shoulder arthroscopic repair, was denied. The Board found that the current disability does not warrant a higher rating.,Service connection for the Veteran’s claimed left ankle condition was also denied as there is no evidence of any current disability related to this condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for his surgical scars of the left arm, left hand, back, and chest was granted. However, service connection for tender and painful scar on the right arm, scar on the right hand, scar on the buttocks, and scar on the abdomen were denied.,The Veteran's request for separate compensation for multiple painful scars on his left upper extremity, chest, and back (four in total) was granted. However, service connection for a scar on the right hand, right arm, abdomen, and buttocks remained denied.

The Board has determined that additional substantive development is necessary prior to further appellate review of the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 benefits due to missing consent forms related to the October 2013 and March 2014 hernia repair procedures at a VA medical facility.