Scars — all decisions

The Board granted service connection for a thyroid disability, to include multinodular goiter and malignant tumor of the thymus status post total thyroidectomy with secondary hypothyroidism as secondary to Hodgkin's disease, nodular sclerosing type, blast rich and thymoma, and also granted service connection for a neck scar associated with this thyroid disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a separate compensable disability rating for his right hand scar, as he is already receiving a 30 percent rating for painful scars under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Board granted service connection for discoid lupus and facial scars as secondary to the now-service-connected discoid lupus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, while claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other conditions were denied. The rating assigned for irritable bowel syndrome is 30 percent.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of all issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these appeals.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for an abdominal scar to ensure compliance with the duty to assist, including obtaining a TERA opinion.

The appeal for higher ratings and special monthly compensation was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision was made.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinion and correcting duty to assist errors.

The Board denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including prostate cancer, left lung residuals, tinnitus, hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and abdominal scar. Service connection was granted for headaches secondary to tinnitus.

The Board denied increased ratings for psychiatric disabilities, liver disability, and painful scars of the anterior trunk but granted service connection for tinnitus, urinary incontinence, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left facial scarring as the evidence did not support a finding of disfigurement or other characteristics warranting a compensable evaluation.

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

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 service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and remanded claims for facial scars, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

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 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 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.