Scars decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the character of the Appellant’s discharge and service connection for painful scar, left thumb, and residuals of fracture of left fifth finger. The AOJ is instructed to request information from the NBCNR regarding the appellant's application for a discharge upgrade.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the right knee post-operative scar, status-post arthroplasty scar, and painful right knee scar have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.,Further development is needed to determine if there are additional scars or complications related to the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment prior to October 18, 2019. The Board denied the TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation before November 26, 2018. His TDIU is granted for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left cheek scar, finding that it is a result of an injury incurred while on active duty training.

The Veteran's mood disorder is rated at 70 percent since January 29, 2013. The Board also granted TDIU and SMC based on statutory housebound status effective June 9, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the left elbow. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to lack of evidence regarding in-service exposure and other procedural matters.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, specifically requesting a VA examination to address inconsistencies in the Veteran's leg length discrepancy and its relation to his lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's service-connected superficial stable scars, right lower leg, are granted a 10 percent disability rating prior to November 18, 2020 and denied for any higher rating from that date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his ratings for various disabilities, including renal cell carcinoma and hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable disability rating are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, low back disability, radiculopathy, knee disabilities, and right knee scar. The specific issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions as of May 29, 2018, and prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions prior to April 4, 2013 prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment consistent with his educational background and employment history.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and rating considerations due to the need for clarification of his knee disabilities, including inconsistencies in previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, as his income has exceeded the poverty threshold level throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar of the left middle finger, finding it etiologically related to an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his employment is considered substantially gainful and not marginal.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted after the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran is asked to respond to the SSOC.