Scars decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his left and right foot scars, as well as the reduction of his feet disability rating from 30% to 10%. The Board found that there was actual improvement in the Veteran's symptoms after surgery.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. Specifically, VA did not attempt to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and Georgia disability records which are potentially relevant to the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for scars, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to support a relationship between his claimed scars and his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as he was employed full-time prior to June 8, 2020. The Board finds that TDIU is not warranted based on the single service-connected disability of his back condition.

The Veteran's scar from back surgery is not considered disabling and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the claim for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to link any service-connected disability to his death.

The Board dismissed the appeal for greater ratings of right shoulder arthritis and left shoulder scar disabilities as the appellant requested withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric condition and multiple musculoskeletal issues, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a scar was granted with an effective date of November 29, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,Tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,Left knee GSW scars are not compensable as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Right elbow GSW with traumatic arthritis and ulnar neuropathy warrants remand due to insufficient evidence on its current rating of 30 percent.,Right ear hearing loss is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder AC joint separation with traumatic arthritis and painful scars, status post left shoulder surgery was denied. The current ratings of 20 percent are not sufficient to reflect the severity of the disabilities.,There is no indication that the Veteran's service-connected conditions were related to any specific exposure basis such as burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant due to lack of blindness in both eyes, burns or inhalation injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with her education and work history, resulting in the denial of a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his employment as a courthouse bailiff, which is inconsistent with needing regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that there were no earlier non-final applications for service connection, and thus an effective date prior to August 10, 2022, could not be granted.

The Veteran's service connection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is granted. The Board also remanded several secondary service connection claims as they are inextricably intertwined with the grant of service connection for NPC.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted. The claims for increased evaluations of service-connected residuals of lung cancer and painful scars, as well as a compensable rating for scars, are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 29, 2021 for the award of service connection for a painful and unstable scar secondary to his pilonidal cyst disability is granted. The effective date is set at May 12, 2014.

The Veteran's abdominal scar is granted a 10 percent disability rating, effective March 26, 2020. The decision finds that the pain associated with the scar warrants this rating.