Scars decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the appeals for all issues related to the Veteran's disabilities, as the Appellant and her authorized representative have withdrawn the appeal.

The Veteran's right-sided nephroureterectomy due to T1 high grade TCC of the kidney and T2 TCC of the distal ureter is granted as related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is granted as of May 8, 2018.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 mm/Hg or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 mm/Hg or more, or a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 mm/Hg or more requiring continuous medication for control.,The Veteran's knee disabilities and radiculopathy claims are remanded as the effective date prior to November 28, 2014, is not established in the record.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism claim is remanded as there is no evidence of a compensable rating for PSVT.,The Veteran's cervical spine and thoracic/lumbar spine claims are remanded as there is no evidence of entitlement to an increased rating.

The Veteran's use of hydrocortisone and hydrophilic creams for his hernia scar caused irreparable damage to his clothing, leading to the grant of clothing allowances for 2016. The use of clotrimazole cream was denied as there were already two clothing allowances in place.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for TDIU from January 20, 2009 to March 23, 2010. The Board found that his education and skills did not support a finding of inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed all the issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for shortening of bone length, right lower extremity; status post repair right patellar tendon with traumatic arthritis; and a right knee scar. The appeals were also dismissed regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease, right hip, and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's case requires additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his service-connected corneal scar, as well as any other diagnosed conditions. The decision is remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period from September 21, 2012 to December 4, 2012. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the combined impact of multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The Board has also identified several issues that require further examination and consideration, including service connection for hypertension.,The Veteran was granted service connection for amputation of the left little toe and left little toe amputation scar on August 8, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scars, hypertension, and GERD are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and bilateral heel scars are granted service connection. Service connection for residuals of mononucleosis is denied.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension is granted as it is presumed due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.,The effective date of service connection for CAD is set at March 1, 2017. The earlier effective dates for prostate cancer and its residuals (ED with SMC and a prostatectomy scar) are also granted based on the liberalizing law that added these conditions to presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for ED is granted as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer, with an effective date of March 1, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 12, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, claimed as migraine headaches, and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for his surgical scar, status post excision of left fronto-temporal dermoid cyst.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.,The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar of the right forearm, as the evidence does not show underlying soft tissue damage or other disabling effects.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her in need of regular aid and attendance, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on this need. The issue of SMC based on housebound status is moot due to the grant of SMC for aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that entitlement to these benefits was not established prior to April 16, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, migraines, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, hypertension, left knee disability, right foot disability, and right leg scar, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's facial scars, residuals of pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), are granted a 30 percent disability rating. However, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.