Scars — all decisions

The appeal was dismissed due to a procedural defect involving concurrent elections for review.

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.

The Board denied increased ratings for kidney cancer, kidney removal, painful periumbilical scar status post partial nephrectomy, and surgical scars status post partial nephrectomy. The effective date of service connection was granted as May 13, 2023.

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 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 granted an effective date of April 16, 2014, for the award of service connection for verruca vulgaris scars.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to a service-connected prostate disability.

The Board found that the reduction of the rating for service-connected painful left foot scar from 10 percent to 0 percent, effective July 19, 2023, was not proper and is void ab initio.

The Board granted service connection for left knee, right knee, lumbosacral strain, and right hand scars, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, tension headaches, shoulder bursitis, foot plantar fasciitis, ankle tendonitis, thumb strain, and PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder. The Board also remanded claims for fatigue, CFS, sleep apnea, and amputated left little finger.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied, and the appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions were dismissed as a matter of law due to concurrent elections.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the 10 percent evaluation of residual surgical scar, status post C-section and the 60 percent evaluation of pulmonary vascular disease (including pulmonary thromboembolism) with obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the service connection of various conditions related to lung cancer, including scars, pain, and hearing loss, but denied an earlier effective date for non-small cell lung cancer itself.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, hearing loss, and various other conditions as the evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary causation to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for residuals of a fifth finger fracture and a scar to the right hand, as well as an increased evaluation for a painful scar.

The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for residual scar(s) of basal cell carcinoma to obtain private medical records from Dr. C.C.

The Board granted service connection for an anxiety disorder as secondary to tinnitus and denied the claims for service connection for TBI, sinusitis, higher ratings for left CTS, left inguinal hernia, and a scar associated with left inguinal hernia. The decision also remanded several other conditions for further development.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings for various conditions but granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for left and right pubic symphysis DJD with limitation of hip extension.

The veteran withdrew all claims on appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to consider them further.

The Board granted service connection for residuals from a right inguinal hernia, to include a surgical scar, and a low back disability. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee and heart disabilities were remanded.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for increased disability ratings and service connection for certain conditions.