Scars Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, dermatosis of the feet, irritable bowel syndrome, and traumatic brain injury. The appeal was denied for increased ratings for PTSD, tremors of the hands, functional digestive disorder, asthma, rhinitis, and chin scar.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right thumb disability and a separate 10 percent rating for his painful right thumb scar.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to address functional impairment and to determine whether the Veteran has an incisional inguinal hernia.

The Board granted an initial 60 percent rating for left cheek lichen simplex chronicus but denied a separate compensable rating for the left cheek scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, except for a few granted evaluations.

The Board granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the February 2024 rating decision, which included service connection for a painful hysterectomy scar and other benefits.

The Board granted service connection for a hysterectomy and miscarriage, both etiologically related to the Veteran's active-duty service, including potential herbicide exposure.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and facial scars, status post excision of cyst of left and right jaw. However, it granted an initial 40% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from June 3, 2024.

The Board granted a separate rating for neuromuscular spasms but dismissed appeals for service connection and increased ratings for other conditions, and remanded claims for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and right leg scar s/p burn, as well as an earlier effective date for service connection of the right leg scar. The claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, lipoma, sleep apnea, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for colon cancer, abdominal scar status post bowel resection, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery bypass graft, CABG surgical scar, and hypertension.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent for photophobia caused by service-connected bilateral blepharitis and left eye cornea scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hip osteoarthritis and right hip scars, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board remands the case for corrective action due to a failure to notify the Veteran of his right to request a pre-decisional hearing before the Board.

The veteran withdrew all appeals for increased ratings of various conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of facial scars to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's skin disorder, including considering his in-service skin complaints and treatment.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for fibroadenoma effective June 2, 2025, and service connection for scar related to the Veteran's service-connected fibroadenoma with an effective date of June 2, 2025. SMC loss of breast tissue was also granted.

The Board granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for the service-connected left forehead scar and denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board remands the issues of an earlier effective date for service connection, a higher initial rating, and service connection for scars due to herbicide exposure for further development.