Scars decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for cervical cancer, finding that new and relevant evidence supports the claim. The appeal is dismissed for all other issues.

The Veteran's right knee surgical scars have not been shown to be manifested by five or more scars that are unstable or painful, and thus the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic renal disease, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis and the medication prescribed for those disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for his right hand injuries have been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing the appeal.

The Veteran's left forehead scar is granted a 30 percent rating, and his painful left forehead scar is denied. The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia, left side, is also granted a 30 percent rating.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for right elbow scars.,The Board granted service connection for left elbow and right knee scars, as secondary to arthroscopic surgeries for service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia and residual scar as there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including an incomplete examination report without discussion of a lifting injury during service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent disabling, effective October 19, 2021. The Board also granted a TDIU from this date due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right wrist disability and back disability, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of August 9, 2015. The Board granted the TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection grants, but the Board finds no legal basis to grant these claims.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim was reopened and granted in June 2014 with an effective date of September 17, 2012.

Service connection for deviated septum, hemorrhoids, and tinnitus is denied. Service connection for bilateral shin scars, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left knee condition, right knee condition, and back injury is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus must be denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned. The effective date of service connection for tinnitus cannot be earlier than March 31, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for coronary artery disease and scar associated with coronary artery disease are dismissed as the March 2021 rating decision deferred final adjudication of these issues until an examination could be provided.,The discontinuance of TDIU was improper and restored effective June 1, 2021. The Veteran's prostate cancer reduction from 100% to 40% does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims through his attorney.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not substantially contribute to his employment handicap, and he was found employable with his current skills, experience, and education. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits as he does not have an employment handicap.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied.,The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his stricture of the esophagus or GERD, as these conditions are already at their maximum schedular ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant as they do not result in loss of use of extremities, blindness in both eyes, full thickness or subdermal burns, or an inhalation injury.

The Veteran's right knee surgical scars are not manifest by an area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater, and thus do not warrant a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7802.,One painful right knee surgical scar warrants a 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Veteran's hidradenitis suppurativa was granted a 60% rating effective July 1, 2019. The appeal for an earlier effective date is granted.

The Board has restored service connection for chronic sarcoidosis and the associated residual scar, finding that the original decisions were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The Veteran's eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also restored.