Scars decisions — 2020

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding several disability ratings, effectively dismissing the cases.

The Veteran's service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, coronary artery disease, and painful sternotomy scar was granted with an effective date of August 20, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, vertigo, knee instability, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the left knee surgical scar at 10 percent, and he was granted TDIU. The issues of a higher rating for PTSD and a compensable rating for the left knee scar are remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle scar is granted as service-connected, but his right ankle disorder and right foot disorder are denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is remanded.

The Board dismissed all the issues related to service connection and compensation for various disabilities, including hearing loss, back injury, scars, paralysis of upper and lower extremities, and TDIU. The decision also noted that the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded both issues related to the Veteran's right ankle scar disability rating and his compensation based on incarceration. The first issue is whether the reduction of the Veteran’s disability rating for a right ankle scar from 10 percent to 0 percent was proper, while the second issue is whether the reduction of the Veteran’s compensation benefits based on incarceration was proper.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 22, 2015 due to lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities alone or in combination have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation. The issue of service connection for left knee disability as secondary to right knee torn medial meniscus status post arthroscopy surgery with surgical scar is remanded for an addendum opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for scars, right knee injuries, and right shoulder injuries. Service connection for vasectomy residuals is remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective July 18, 2011, as he has been unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since that date.

The Veteran's flatfoot (pes planus) and migraine, including migraine variants (claimed as tension headaches), are found to be related to his service. The remaining claims for service connection have been remanded.,Service connection is granted for flatfoot (pes planus) and migraine, including migraine variants (claimed as tension headaches).

The Veteran's right eye disability, including herpes ulcer and resultant corneal scarring and transplant, is granted as service-connected due to aggravation during active duty.,The Veteran's left eye disability is denied as not incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for fibromyalgia, tinnitus, and bronchitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for migraines with a 40 percent rating, but no higher. Her scar left knee associated with tricompartmental chondromalacia status post meniscus surgery received a noncompensable rating. The Board also remanded several issues including the initial compensable rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since May 8, 2017. A TDIU is granted effective from that date. The right knee disability and OSA are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to appear for scheduled VA examinations.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to appear for scheduled VA examinations.

A rating of 20 percent for service-connected scars of the left lower extremity status post vein stripping is granted.,An initial compensable rating for service-connected scars of the left lower extremity surgery status post vein stripping under Diagnostic Code 7805 is denied.,Total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected scars of the left lower extremity status post vein stripping (TDIU) on a schedular basis is denied.,An effective date earlier than July 31, 2018, for grant of service connection for scars of the left lower extremity surgery status post vein stripping is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address her right foot disability, including surgical scars and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for her neck disability and TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for head injury and left eye scars due to conflicting evidence and need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and disfiguring facial scar have prevented him from obtaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).