Scars decisions — 2024

The Veteran's TDIU is denied as the earliest effective date allowable for the grant of a TDIU is January 28, 2021 due to service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 20% rating for painful scars, residuals of dog bites (bilateral wrists and right thumb), was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the separate evaluations of his right upper extremity deep nonlinear scars, residual of dog bite, and left upper extremity deep nonlinear scars, dog bite residuals, were also denied.

The Board dismissed all the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed the remaining claims. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left and right ankle disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and depression.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or PFB-related scars. Increased ratings were also denied for mixed tension migraines.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for residuals of a skin condition, including scarring. The Veteran's claim is based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and Thailand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, other specified sleep-wake disorder, right shoulder injury, and right shoulder scar due to inadequate VA examinations. The RO must obtain new opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements and medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death, attributing it to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and cholecystectomy. The decision also moots any entitlement to Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) due to the grant of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits, other than employment benefits, to include a program of independent living services pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31 due to the lack of reasonable feasibility in achieving a vocational goal and improvement in independence in daily living.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance (A&A), finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a 10 percent rating effective September 15, 2020.,A compensable rating for instability or subluxation of the right knee has been denied.

Service connection for left arm burns or scars and vasectomy scarring is denied.,The Veteran's congenital giantism of the left hand (left thumb, index finger, middle finger) requires further examination to determine if it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's nonunion of right mandible body (jaw fracture) and loss of any portion of mandible are deemed additional disabilities caused by the October 1995 surgery at Charleston VAMC. The Veteran's oromandibular dystonia, oromandibular dyskinesia, and orofacial dyskinesia are secondary to her nonunion right mandible body (jaw fracture). Her scar left hip is also secondary to the same condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as his conditions are manageable with the help of family members.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants because her service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria under VA regulations.

The Veteran's skin condition, pseudofolliculitis barbae with scarring of the head, face and neck, is rated at 30 percent since November 6, 2021. The RO increased his rating to 30 percent effective November 9, 2022.,The Veteran's scars on anterior trunk, left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and right upper extremity are not rated as compensable.

The Veteran's inguinal hernia is granted a 10 percent rating, and his left calf and ear scars are each granted a separate 10 percent rating for painful conditions. The Veteran also receives a separate 10 percent rating for unstable or painful scars.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 7, 2016, and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted due to lack of evidence linking the disabilities to service or a service-connected condition. Increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis were also denied.