Scars Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating, as well as remanded certain issues for further development.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's posterior trunk surgical scar and remanded claims related to his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies.

The appeal for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's 100 percent combined rating assigned for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for right breast cancer and scars, residual of right breast cancer based on the presumption under the Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2022.

The Board granted service connection for left and right foot scars due to bunionectomies, an initial 30 percent rating for sinusitis, and a 10 percent rating for rhinitis.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from July 1, 2016, to June 25, 2017, and beginning June 26, 2017, due to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) status post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, horizontal surgical scars of the anterior neck, and major depressive disorder (MDD), but granted an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability as of November 12, 2015.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for painful penile scars but denied a compensable evaluation for genital warts.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for type II diabetes and bilateral leg scarring for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on whether the conditions are secondary to service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right inguinal scar (painful) as there was no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder (GAD) is shown to preclude the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his work and education background from November 1, 2012.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, finding no evidence that he required such assistance prior to September 21, 2022.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, denied ratings in excess of 30 percent for left and right knee strains, granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful, noncompensable limitation of flexion of the knees, granted service connection for back condition and related radiculopathies, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right shoulder condition.

The appeal for service connection and increased ratings was dismissed due to untimely filing of the notice of disagreement.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left wrist and right ankle disabilities, as well as a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected scars.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to provide the Veteran with notice of her right to a hearing before the AOJ.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, a right knee disability, and a low back disability but denied the claims for an earlier effective date for hypertension and distal lateral surgical scar of the right long finger, depression, bilateral hearing loss, and a right elbow disability. The Veteran was also granted an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD and a 20 percent disability rating for colostomy closure scar of the right upper quadrant and midline laparotomy scar and left costal margin entrance wound scar, effective August 8, 2023.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to July 2, 2023.