Scars Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for cornea scarring and hearing loss based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted initial 10 percent ratings for chronic urticaria, stomach scar, right shin splints, left shin splints, right knee strain, and left knee strain. The claim for an initial compensable rating for esophageal stricture was denied.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating for bradycardia, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, abscess of the brain (syndrome that causes strokes with residuals manifested by scars), and hypertension due to further development needed.

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

The Board denied an increased rating for the lumbar spine disability and granted a 20 percent evaluation for right lower extremity radiculopathy, while denying compensable evaluations for other conditions. The Board also remanded several service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to the Veteran's failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause. The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and secondary service connection were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation in excess of the 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) rate due to a lack of evidence showing anatomical loss or loss of use of both arms, both legs, one arm and one leg, or blindness without light perception in both eyes.

The Board granted an initial 100 percent rating for chondrosarcoma prior to November 26, 2021, and denied a higher rating for rib removal. Pulmonary vascular disease was rated at 60 percent effective May 26, 2021, and anterior chest scar was rated at 10 percent effective the same date.

The veteran's appeal requests for the issues of right jaw injury and facial scar, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as untimely filed.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and right hand scar, but denied service connection for other claimed conditions including diabetes type II, erectile dysfunction, headaches, heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder injury, left hand injury, lower back injury, right shoulder injury, upper back injury, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board denied service connection for brain tumor, left knee instability, and left ear scar. However, it granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee meniscectomy.

The Board denied service connection for a higher initial rating for psychotic disorder, a compensable rating for scalp scar, and service connection for TBI. However, the Board granted service connection for headaches.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, solar lentigines, and acne as manifestations of a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI), while denying an increased rating for PTSD with residuals of traumatic brain injury. The Board also granted initial ratings for migraine and tension headaches, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for scars of the anterior trunk and remanded claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hemorrhoids, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder and anxiety.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left ankle disability, and right elbow disability after new evidence was submitted. The claim for a right shoulder disability was denied. Various knee and scar ratings were either granted or denied.

The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran's submission of a Board appeal on the same issue as a duty to assist error identified during HLR was an impermissible concurrent election.

All appeals for higher initial ratings and service connection were dismissed as they were duplicative of previously addressed appeals or due to untimely filings.

The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates and a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, as the evidence did not support an earlier date of entitlement or a higher rating.

The appeal for service connection for right upper extremity, right lower extremity, and anterior trunk burn scar residuals has been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Board granted the extension of the temporary evaluation of 100 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder joint replacement and Special Monthly Compensation from March 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025. The claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were remanded.