Scars decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, bladder cancer, and scars have been granted with effective dates of June 29, 2023. A separate rating of at least 10 percent is granted for a painful scar from this date. From June 29, 2023, the Veteran is also granted a 100 percent rating for loss of use of both feet associated with Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all claims related to effective dates and service connection, leaving only the SMC based on housebound status claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to procedural defects.,These issues include claims for various conditions such as arthritis, anxiety and depression, and tumors.

The Board has dismissed all pending claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeals for increased disability ratings in multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hemorrhoids, left inguinal hernia, painful residual left ankle scar, or tinea pedis with onychomycosis.

The Veteran's motion to revise the September 1974 RO rating decision that granted service connection for scars, residual injury of the right thumb, and assigned a noncompensable rating was denied. The motion to revise the implicit denial of a compensable rating for residuals of a right thumb fracture was also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of February 4, 2019. The increase in her service-connected major depressive disorder caused her to leave work and go on FMLA.

The Board has granted effective dates of December 31, 2014 for the service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, a left shoulder disability, and limitation of motion of the left ankle.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of the 60 percent rating for rectal fissures and scarring is granted, with the earliest effective date being December 17, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee scar and status post left knee meniscal tear were granted with an effective date of September 10, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU for PTSD is granted, and he also receives SMC Housebound based on his combined disability rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's residual surgical scar, status post coronary artery bypass graft, is granted a 10 percent disability rating due to pain and itching.

The Veteran's burn scars and right shoulder scar are not rated as compensable, while the DJD of the lumbar spine is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing and following substantially gainful employment, but she was granted a TDIU. However, the SMC at the housebound rate is denied as she does not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Veteran's osteoporosis, squamous cell carcinoma, and scar are all found to be secondary to his service-connected psoriatic arthritis. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions based on the aggravation of pre-existing disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and left ankle fracture residuals, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since October 2005. The effective date for the TDIU is set at June 29, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance is being remanded due to missing private treatment records from Dr. S.M. at South Shore Medical Center, which are necessary for a complete evaluation of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the claims for higher disability ratings for various foot and knee disabilities. The issue of entitlement to an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is also remanded due to its interrelated nature with the remanded claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 25, 2019, for the 100% evaluation of Major Depressive Disorder is granted. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied as she was not found to be unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and a 10 percent rating for his left index finger scar post laceration is granted. The Veteran's left testicular varicocele does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.