Scars decisions — 2021

The Veteran's facial scars are rated at a 50% disability rating from December 7, 2011 to December 7, 2018.,The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from July 30, 2008, to December 4, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions alone preclude him from obtaining and maintaining such employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that his abdominal disability did not contribute to his death and hypertension was not related to herbicide exposure. The Board also found no new evidence submitted since the last rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on his left elbow conditions have been dismissed due to unclear Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's scars are rated at 10 percent for painful scar, left index finger and no higher. The compensable rating for residual scar proximal palmar aspect 1st and 2nd finger, left hand is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including new VA examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance, as he is able to dress and undress himself without assistance.

The Veteran's lung adenocarcinoma is considered a residual of an in-service inhalation injury, meeting the criteria for a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's right fifth finger scar, claimed as incurred in service, is denied due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between the injury and service.,PTSD is rated at 30 percent, with no higher rating granted based on current symptoms not meeting criteria for a higher rating.,Tinea cruris does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it affects less than 5% of his total body area.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability and a left wrist scar, finding that the earliest post-service evidence of these disabilities is more than 25 years after separation from service. The Veteran's STRs did not document any left wrist injury or chronic complaints.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 28, 2013 was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected right hip disability prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The claim for an effective date prior to June 28, 2013 for Dependents' Educational Assistance was also denied due to lack of a qualifying disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted. The housebound claim is dismissed due to the grant of SMC by reason of regular need for aid and attendance. The claims for increased evaluations for coronary artery disease and left knee arthroscopy are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of December 26, 2007. The Board granted effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits based on this determination.

The Board has restored the previous ratings for scars, right knee, traumatic arthritis with limited flexion, and limitation of extension, all at 20 percent, effective September 1, 2015 to October 22, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's initial rating for the painful left hand laceration residual scar is denied, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, nor did they cause him to be permanently housebound or at the housebound rate prior to February 8, 2017; or from June 1, 2017, to December 22, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for osteoarthritis of the left first MTP joint is granted, and his initial rating for a left fifth toe scar is also granted. However, the effective date for service connection remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and other procedural issues. The Veteran is also being referred for a TDIU determination prior to July 22, 2020.

The Veteran's residual thyroidectomy scar is rated at a 10 percent rating, effective June 25, 2014. She also receives a separate 30 percent rating for difficulty swallowing as a disabling effect from the service-connected residual thyroidectomy scar.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for burn scars of the right and left arms, finding that the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's skin disability rating criteria.,Service connection was also denied for a right forearm disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and bronchial asthma.