Scars Board decisions

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, under the PACT Act and remanded several other claims related to various disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a scar on the right ring finger and denied service connection for refractive errors of the eyes. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the left eye disability effective December 6, 2021, and denied a higher rating prior to that date. The sternotomy scar was also denied a compensable rating.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for the left eye condition and left eyelid scar prior to April 5, 2021, but denied a higher rating from that date. The claim for increased rating for the left zygoma fracture was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral pleural scar with obstructive and restrictive pulmonary disease, COPD and chronic bronchitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a laryngectomy and stoma status post laryngectomy due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the ventral hernia, a separate 30 percent rating for painful or unstable surgical scars, and a TDIU effective March 13, 2022. The claims for increased ratings for diverticulitis and surgical scars under Diagnostic Code 7801 were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a neck scar and a rating of 100 percent for asthma from May 25, 2021. The tinnitus claim was remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and also claimed as severe recurrent major depression without psychotic features was granted. A rating of 30 percent, but not higher, for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) from November 21, 2020, was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for his left eye and right eye conditions, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 40 percent, 60 percent, or 60 percent, respectively.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's painful scaring on his head, face, and/or neck, related to basal cell carcinoma removal.

The Board granted service connection for functional abdominal pain syndrome, a headache disorder, dyspnea, left elbow disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot plantar fasciitis. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for verruca vulgaris and bilateral hand scars. The Board remanded the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board denied the claims for an increased rating for right wrist chronic sprain and back scar, residual of shell fragment wound.

The Board granted service connection for cervicothoracic dysfunction and a scar of the right flank, but denied an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal for increased rating evaluations and effective dates was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) that was not signed by the Veteran or his authorized representative within the required timeframe.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for the left eye corneal scar and denied service connection for residuals of malaria, headaches, joint pain, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for pleural effusion, pericarditis, chronic, lung changes, left, lung scarring, left, and pericardial effusion to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's cesarean section scar and remanded the claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the service-connected scar, status post right inguinal hernia repair, and a higher than 10 percent rating for the painful scar. The right inguinal hernia was remanded for further evaluation.