Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 13, 2006, for service connection of low back strain was denied. The Board also remanded several issues related to his knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) for her claim regarding higher special monthly compensation. The Board cannot proceed with appellate review until an SOC has been issued.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not render him totally unemployable.

The Veteran's shin splints, head injury with scar, right-hand fracture (fifth metacarpal), and right ankle strain claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and has ordered a remand to obtain additional VA medical records. The Board also ordered VA examinations to determine if the Veteran has each of his claimed disabilities, including whether any preexisting conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, nor ankylosis of his knees or hips. Therefore, he does not qualify for eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residual scars associated with the service-connected bilateral leg compartment syndrome and fasciotomies was denied. The Board found that the scars were not painful or unstable, and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a pain disorder was denied, and her claim for an increased rating of the transverse suprapubic scar was granted. The pain disorder claim is based on direct service connection, while the scar claim is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain, and initial compensable ratings for left thigh scar and eczema due to her failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has determined that the Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left foot scar, right foot disability, and right foot hammer toe due to possible worsening since the last examinations in 2014 and 2015.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left hip pain, left shoulder pain, neck pain, right hip pain, right shoulder pain, sleep apnea, facial scars due to injury, and headaches.

The Veteran's tender and painful scar of the right middle finger and right bicep was restored to a 10 percent rating, while his limitation of motion in the right long finger received an increased 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hypertension caused or contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye photophobia and corneal scar, as well as his claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The latter is due to new evidence presented by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as for a compensable rating for his right knee scar. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's disability rating for a residual scar, right shoulder surgery, was restored from 10% to 10%, effective September 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 4, 2015 were denied as the earliest date of claim was March 1979 when he originally filed his service connection claims. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Veteran's scar, which is a linear surgical scar on the anterior trunk measuring approximately thirteen centimeters in length, has been granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for an increased rating, stating she was satisfied with the current rating of 30% for her service-connected thyroidectomy scar associated with hypothyroidism.