Scars — all decisions

The Veteran's service-connected dry eye syndrome is granted a 20 percent evaluation, while his left leg scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

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

The appeal of the proposed reduction from 10 percent to noncompensable for both bilateral tinea pedis and contact dermatitis, bilateral thighs with residual scarring was dismissed due to a procedural defect.

The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating for residual scars as a result of squamous cell carcinoma of the hands and lower extremities to ensure VA makes adequate efforts to obtain relevant private treatment records from Dr. M.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and migraine headaches.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for residual scar burn reconstructive surgery of anterior and posterior trunk due to a duty-to-assist error regarding obtaining surgical records.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection and higher initial evaluations for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, actinic keratoses, plantar fasciitis, basal cell carcinoma, and various musculoskeletal issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several issues, including those related to bunionectomy scars and effective dates.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's left breast scar from January 31, 2024, and dismissed appeals for an increased rating for left breast phyllodes tumor excision surgery and special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ (SMC-K).

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for migraines, cervical spinal stenosis, a scar on neck, and right ankle disability, as well as increased ratings for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal for service connection for PTSD was denied due to insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of Hodgkin's lymphoma, scars secondary to Hodgkin's lymphoma, and vitiligo as secondary to Hodgkin's lymphoma, all based on the PACT Act.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for hearing loss, right and left wrist pain, a lung condition, and an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's scar, right hand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to need regular aid and attendance, granting special monthly compensation.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for residuals of lung cancer and denied a compensable rating for right lobectomy scars, while granting a separate 10 percent rating for painful right lobectomy scars.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 5, 2023, for a 100 percent rating for MDD and SMC based on housebound criteria. However, it granted service connection for right ear painful scar, right ear surgical scar, and sleep apnea with an effective date of November 30, 2020.

The Board granted an effective date of November 20, 2012, and no earlier, for the grant of eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 USC chapter 35 but denied earlier effective dates for service connection claims and increased ratings.

The veteran withdrew the appeal by way of a February 2024 Statement in Support of Claim, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Board remands the claim for a recurrent pulmonary disability to ensure that there is a complete record upon which to decide the claim, including obtaining a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination.

The veteran was granted a disability evaluation of 40 percent for ventral hernia from April 22, 2024 to May 19, 2024 and 60 percent from May 19, 2024. The other claims were denied.