Scars decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as not related to service.,His multiple scars of the forehead with slight disfigurement are rated at 10% and no higher rating is granted.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of spinal fusion is remanded.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70%, but a higher rating is not granted.,An effective date earlier than October 13, 1970 for the award of service connection for multiple scars of the forehead with slight disfigurement and an effective date earlier than December 5, 2013 for tinnitus are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and denied DIC benefits, finding that none of his service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

Service connection for a laceration scar on the right side of the forehead, to include numbness is granted.,A compensable rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for a laceration scar, mid forehead above the left eyebrow with retained foreign body is granted.

The Board found that the reduction in ratings for left forehead scar and TBI residuals was proper based on improvements observed over time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been assigned an effective date of January 1, 2017, which is the day after his separation from active duty.,The Veteran has filed a claim for earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions. The Board finds that these claims are denied as the earliest possible effective date allowed by law is January 1, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran’s representative withdrawing all issues except for those related to coronary artery disease, TDIU, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower-back condition, left-knee condition, and scar on top of the head. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be aggravated in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his postoperative nasal scar, paralysis of left cranial nerve V, and residuals of left neck metastatic squamous cell carcinoma have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not have qualifying wartime service for pension benefits. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied, and the claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits is also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including higher ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions and a determination of whether his erectile dysfunction is related to his period of active service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for the increased disability rating of 10 percent for service-connected residual scars, status post appendectomy, exploratory laparotomy, and right bunionectomy, as well as for the grant of service connection for right foot hallux valgus. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is July 31, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her residual scars was denied in June 2007 and became final. She filed a formal claim seeking an increased evaluation on July 31, 2013, which the RO considered as the date of claim. The effective date is set at that time.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with major depression, herniated disc at the L4-L5, tinea versicolor (dermatophytosis), chronic rhinitis, and appendectomy scar. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with major depression, herniated disc at the L4-L5, tinea versicolor (dermatophytosis), chronic rhinitis, and appendectomy scar. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's breast cancer is denied as there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ulnar peripheral neuropathy, left forearm and hand scars, and fractured rib residuals as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, consistent with his education and occupational history.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for status post hysterectomy with uterovaginal prolapse was denied. The TDIU claim from February 12, 2014 to April 30, 2014 is dismissed due to the assignment of a 100% schedular rating. For the period since May 1, 2014, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the threshold for TDIU and she was granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as it was not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability of any of the scars occurred within one year prior to September 22, 2014.,Service connection for PTSD was granted effective from September 22, 2014.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability and several musculoskeletal issues. The appeal was also denied for TDIU due to lack of evidence showing unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for non-hodgkin’s lymphoma was withdrawn. The Board granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, as he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his multiple conditions.