Scars decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, all of a common etiology, have rendered him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience since April 3, 2021. The Board is granting TDIU effective April 3, 2021, but remanding the issues for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability, finding that there was no causal relationship between his in-service injury and his current condition. The Board also noted that the Veteran's eye conditions were not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran is granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2) for a higher level of aid and attendance effective June 24, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear cholesteatoma, a surgical scar on the right ear, and Meniere's syndrome in the right ear. The claim for TDIU is also remanded due to its inextricability with other issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have increased in severity since the last VA examinations. The Board has decided to remand these issues for further evaluation.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective January 10, 2019. However, the claim for TDIU prior to that date is remanded due to lack of schedular requirements.