Scars Board decisions

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's horizontal scar of lower abdominal area, anterior trunk as there was no evidence showing that the condition met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, with effective dates from March 15, 2013. The Board also granted a TDIU and DEA based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches were granted a rating of 50 percent, and she was also granted TDIU, DEA, and SMC for the period from March 27, 2017, to August 20, 2017.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of March 26, 2012 for service connection for coronary artery disease and associated scars post quadruple bypass.

The Board remands the claims for higher staged ratings and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent, 20 percent, and 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and residual painful surgical scar, posterior trunk respectively, to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for headaches with auras and a 10 percent rating for temporomandibular joint disorders, unspecified. Service connection was denied for various conditions including disabilities causing numbness, hearing loss, hip and spine issues, chest pain, dizziness, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, wrist disability, shortness of breath, ankle and eye pain, and sleep apnea.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), but denied service connection for a right ankle disability, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, a compensable rating for renal insufficiency as a residual of rhabdomyolysis, and other claims.

The Board granted the appeal and restored service connection for GERD with cirrhosis of the liver, cholelithiasis with chronic cholecystitis, and surgical and painful right subcostal scars, s/p cholecystectomy. The claim for readjudication of PTSD was also granted, while other claims were denied.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, secondary to tinnitus and a compensable rating for the cesarean section scar. The claims for service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle status post achilles tendon repair, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, osteoarthritis of both hips, right wrist condition, and left wrist condition were remanded.

The appeal was dismissed as a matter of law due to the proposed reductions being reversed after a finding of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, numbness of upper extremities, right shoulder impingement syndrome, allergic rhinitis, and scars.

The Board granted service connection for pilonidal cyst residuals including scar and denied a compensable disability rating for chronic bronchitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for a service-connected scar associated with inguinal hernia surgery, as there was no evidence of more than one painful scar and it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable DCs.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar strain and scarring of the lungs as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran has these disabilities or had such during the period on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as there was no evidence to support higher ratings or a grant of service connection.

The Board granted the appeal and restored service connection for squamous cell cancer of the tonsil, esophageal stricture with surgical cricopharyngeal myotomy, scars associated with squamous cell cancer of the tonsil, GERD, and neck scar, residuals of cancer surgery.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a bilateral wrist disability, a bilateral hip disability, facial scars, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle sprain.

The Board granted an effective date of September 16, 2019, for the grant of service connection for prostatic adenocarcinoma, erectile dysfunction, and scars, anterior trunk (abdominal) area, residual of radical prostatectomy surgery.

The appeal for service connection for various disabilities and an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for a mental health condition is remanded due to missing or incomplete service treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic brain injury, intermittent vertigo, and residuals of miscarriage. The claims for other trauma or stressor related disorder and anxiety were remanded.