Scars decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for various knee conditions have been dismissed due to their passing during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an allowance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in physical loss of use of hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision, severe burn injury, or ALS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings related to his coronary artery disease (CAD) and anterior trunk scar are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance for the period of time on appeal.

The Veteran's right-hand scar and fracture are rated at 10% each, while a separate rating of 10% is granted for the laceration to her tendons.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of December 1, 2019, for additional dependency benefits based on school attendance for her stepchildren M.A. and R.A., finding that the earliest effective date was January 22, 2021, due to the one-year waiting period after the October 7, 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for left knee scars post-ACL repair and an increased rating beyond 10 percent for left knee tendonitis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria for specially adapted housing (SAH) or a special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to lack of qualifying disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck scar as secondary to the appellant's service-connected vocal cord disability and has also granted an initial rating of 30 percent for his vocal cord disability. The appeal is remanded for further consideration regarding TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for left shoulder and forearm basal cell carcinoma residuals and scars have been denied. The appeal regarding service connection for hepatocellular cancer is pending as new evidence may establish a relationship to active service.

The Veteran's right ankle scar is denied a compensable disability rating.,The Veteran's left knee disability prior to August 25, 2020, and since that date are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's left hip limitation of extension is granted a 10 percent rating from June 14, 2021. The ratings for left ear hearing loss, right foot neuropathy, left foot neuropathy, right great toe scar, and left great toe scar are denied. A compensable rating for right knee scars is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee soreness is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a left knee disability.,A rating of 20 percent, but no higher, is granted for the Veteran's left foot tenosynovitis due to moderate functional impairment caused by pain and flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of acute chemical exposure to the eyes was denied as there is no evidence linking his current eye condition to service. The VA examiner found that any current eye problems are unrelated to the in-service incident and due to refractive error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his right knee surgical scar, finding that it did not meet the criteria under Diagnostic Code (DC) 7802 due to its size and lack of underlying soft tissue damage.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for ventral hernia and surgical scar, upper abdomen have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating under either the old or new VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and right knee scar were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including those for increased ratings and earlier effective dates. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his residual left foot burn scar was denied as the scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service connection for lung adenocarcinoma and a painful surgical scar of the left side of his chest was granted, with effective dates set at September 26, 2019. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the lung cancer residuals is denied.