Scars decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee disabilities and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from February 24, 2021. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than September 23, 2009 for Meniere's syndrome and November 29, 2011 for migraines due to Meniere's syndrome have been granted. The other claims related to a neck disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and scar have not met the criteria for an effective date prior to October 26, 2020.

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 right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as lumbar spine facet joint degeneration, have been granted effective from June 15, 2015. The Veteran's lumbar spine scars were also granted an effective date of the same day.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board is remanding the case to determine if he qualifies for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on his service-connected right hip and left knee disabilities, as well as a right hip scar, is dismissed because the issues are already pending final adjudication by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, thus the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has granted effective dates of February 16, 2022 for the awards of service connection for GERD, residuals of esophageal cancer to include metastatic stomach cancer with partial removal of the stomach, scar of the naval and throat, and anemia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and knee conditions and psychiatric disorder, prevent him from securing or maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of at least 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on both his scar and ganglion cyst disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease and its associated conditions, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since May 22, 2013.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for an initial compensable rating for scars from colon surgery, service connection for restless leg syndrome, and service connection for tinnitus. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board has determined that the VA scars examination obtained in June 2023 did not fully assess the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and bilateral great toe scars. Therefore, these claims are being remanded to provide a comprehensive VA scars examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right knee pain and scars has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for unilateral lagophthalmos, but denied an increased rating for the left eye scar. The Veteran's left eye injury residuals are currently assigned a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates prior to March 27, 2019 were denied as the evidence did not support earlier claims or entitlement.,VA recognized an intent to file a claim on December 7, 2017, but this was not used to establish an earlier effective date due to the filing of new claims within one year.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for various conditions was clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to a lack of qualifying active duty, resulting in denial of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation on a schedular basis from April 29, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is being remanded due to the need for personal care services, as determined by VA medical providers. The decision on whether the program is in his best interest will be reconsidered.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, right foot disorder, and right foot post-operative scar as the evidence did not establish a relationship between these conditions and service.,There is no medical evidence linking current sleep apnea to service. The Veteran's complaints in service were attributed to upper respiratory infections or acute infections.