Scars — all decisions

The Board granted a single initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's painful and unstable pilonidal sinus removal scar and left small finger scar, effective from June 14, 2017, but denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scar status post left breast lumpectomy and a compensable disability rating (in excess of zero percent) for surgical scar of left breast.

The Board granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, denied an increased rating for PTSD beyond the current 100% rating, denied earlier effective dates for SMC housebound status and DEA benefits, and dismissed the issue of a TDIU as moot.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease (IBS with GERD) but denied other claims.

The Board granted effective dates of April 29, 2022, for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a 30 percent rating for cervical spine disability but denied initial compensable ratings for various scars and other conditions.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right thigh impairment beginning August 8, 2023, but denied service connection for cervical strain, obstructive sleep apnea due to obesity, and other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle pain and a compensable rating for scalp scars, while remanding claims for an initial compensable rating for traumatic brain injury (TBI), service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 19, 2022, for the grant of a 10 percent disability rating for anterior trunk scars and vacated its previous decision dismissing the appeal as untimely.

The Board remands the issue of an earlier effective date for service connection for painful residual scars of the posterior back to determine whether there was clear error in the grant of service connection for these scars.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and remanded claims for increased ratings.

The Board denied service connection for scars of the bilateral hands and arms, denied higher ratings for knee strain, dyspnea, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus, and remanded several other issues including service connection for headaches disability.

The Board remands the claims for further development and adjudication by the AOJ.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for an esophageal condition and a hiatal hernia surgery scar, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied initial ratings for several disabilities, while granting a 30% rating for the left foot disability and a 40% rating for the back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right thumb disability, left wrist scars, and right thumb scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for foot scars and hypertension, as well as remanded the claims for an increased rating for a bilateral foot disability and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-traumatic arthritis, left wrist, and scar, right hand index finger injury.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating for right temple squamous cell carcinoma and an increased rating for residual scar, right temple squamous cell carcinoma to correct a duty to assist error.