Scars — all decisions

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service connection for right upper extremity, right lower extremity, and anterior trunk burn scar residuals has been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.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

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 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 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.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's painful scar associated with his cervical spine disability from December 4, 2019, and remanded other issues for further development.

The Board granted service connection for vein scar, left upper extremity as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hemochromatosis.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back disability, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, limitation of pronation and flexion of the right elbow, and scarring, but granted a 40 percent rating from March 26, 2024 to September 17, 2024.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a left foot soft tissue injury and a separate compensable rating for a left-forefoot scar, as additional evidence is needed.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all issues related to increased ratings for various service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for several conditions effective April 16, 2007, but no earlier, and denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for constipation. SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was granted from August 30, 2013.

The Board granted service connection for right wrist strain, testicular pain, TMJ with bruxism, and erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD), while denying increased ratings for PTSD, left wrist strain, abdominal scarring status post appendectomy, chronic sinusitis, IBS, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board also granted special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, denied service connection for bilateral flat feet, respiratory disability, vertigo, and a compensable rating for bilateral hydrocele. The claim for service connection for kidney disability was granted, and a 10 percent rating for hypertension was assigned.