Scars decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and physical disabilities separately result in her requiring regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting a higher rate of special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to the decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's long history of working in a position requiring significant ambulation, combined with his left ankle disability, makes it reasonably possible that he cannot maintain substantially gainful employment.

The appeals for increased ratings for inguinal hernia, eye disorder (corneal abrasions and lacerations), and neck scar were dismissed. The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea was granted. The claims for service connection for inguinal hernia, corneal abrasions and lacerations, and neck scar are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting left knee surgery and surgical scar did not become aggravated by service, and therefore, cannot be granted service connection for this condition.,There is no persuasive evidence to support a finding that any of the Veteran's disabilities (left knee disability, cervical spine disability, or lumbar spine disability) had their onset during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU. The matter of an increased rating for left hip strain is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant were denied due to her failure to report for the scheduled examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's claim for ED was denied as there is no evidence of penile deformity associated with the condition.,Claims for right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, tension headaches, scars, and knee disabilities were all denied due to lack of evidence showing entitlement prior to April 30, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to non-compliance with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional evidentiary development due to a significant change in his employment status and the need to reassess whether he has an employment handicap or serious employment handicap.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his claimed disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for plantar fasciitis, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for trace central corneal scar of the left eye from December 2, 2015, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for trace corneal scar of the left eye from December 2, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hand scar, left knee strain, and right knee strain were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent. The denial was based on the fact that the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination related to his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate prior to September 14, 2020 is granted. The criteria were met from August 25, 2015 onward due to his PTSD being rated as 70 percent disabling.

The Veteran's painful scars of the bilateral underarm and anterior trunk have been granted a disability rating of 20 percent.,The Veteran's ageusia (loss of sense of taste) has not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to April 18, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he and his representative requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and an opinion on the etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 9, 2020. The Board has now granted a TDIU rating on a schedular basis from that date, which triggers the need for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and chest scars, finding the evidence in relative equipoise concerning whether the Veteran's heart condition was properly characterized as IHD. The chest scarring is secondary to a heart disability.