Scars — all decisions

The Board denied the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss, an initial compensable rating for a posterior trunk scar, and initial compensable ratings for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board granted an effective date of March 28, 2023 for the award of a 50 percent rating for chronic headaches and a 10 percent rating for scars of the head, but denied ratings in excess of these amounts. The Board also granted service connection for painful scars of the head with an effective date of March 28, 2023.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent disability rating for dry eye syndrome and effective dates prior to August 1, 2024, for the award of service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board granted compensation and service connection for various conditions, including those under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety, but dismissed the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right thumb disorder, a compensable rating for a right thumb scar, a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right thumb scar, and a left great toe disorder as moot. The claims for service connection for a left hip disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and PTSD were remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for post-surgical scars and denied increased ratings for acquired psychiatric disorder prior to July 21, 2023. However, the Board granted a later effective date for erectile dysfunction and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, hemorrhoids, and a thoracic spine disorder. Service connection was granted for hypertension, and an initial rating of 30 percent was assigned for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board denied increased ratings for abdominal scars and kidney cancer residuals but granted a separate 30 percent rating for the left nephrectomy due to kidney cancer.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, gastrointestinal issues, foot pain, hand scars, shin splints, migraines, thoracolumbar spine condition, and respiratory condition, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for a scar resulting from the removal of a cyst on the right upper extremity, finding that there was no credible evidence supporting the claim.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for breast cysts and masses, liver cysts and masses, and scar conditions and fibrosis of skin due to an AOJ error in satisfying a regulatory or statutory duty.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the service-connected left forehead scar but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee osteoarthritis, and PTSD.

The Veteran requested the withdrawal of all issues currently on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeals.

The Board granted service connection for melanoma on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act and for facial scars, secondary to now service-connected melanoma.

The appeal was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder, lumbosacral strain, right elbow burn scars, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, low testosterone, and left knee disability. However, service connection was granted for TBI, left forehead scar, and left arm scars.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, a higher evaluation for PTSD, earlier effective dates for hypertension and back disability, dismissed an appeal for an earlier effective date for residual gunshot wound scars, and remanded several other issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings and service connection for various conditions, including supraventricular arrhythmia and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, erectile dysfunction, left groin scar, bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, left elbow epicondylitis, and multiple concussions.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for right and left lower extremity residuals of cold injury disability from April 5, 2011 to August 8, 2023, but denied a higher rating thereafter. The claims for increased ratings were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a neck strain and obstructive sleep apnea, as there was no evidence of these conditions during the pendency of the claim or approximate thereto. The claims for other conditions were remanded for further development.