Scars Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an initial compensable rating for tension headaches. Several claims were remanded for further development.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for multiple conditions, including hearing loss, facial scars, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, skin condition, sleep apnea, and various musculoskeletal issues.

The appeal of proposed actions to sever service connection for multiple scars, status post excision of skin cancer, and to reduce the assigned disability rating from 100 percent to 30 precent for multiple basal cell carcinomas was dismissed. The appeal of issues for initial higher ratings for hypertension, PTSD, gastroesophageal reflux disorder with diverticulitis, and anemia, and issues for service connection for Parkinson's like symptoms, peripheral neuropathy in the lower and upper extremities, and low back disability were also dismissed.

The Board granted an effective date of May 10, 1989, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a burn scar on the left hand, as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for chest scars and headaches, but denied service connection for tinnitus, PTSD to include depression and anxiety condition, left shin splints, right shin splints, left shoulder strain, right shoulder disability, bilateral foot condition, right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar strain, and cervical strain.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for scars, right lower leg, a left arm disability, and a right arm disability due to prohibited concurrent elections under the modernized review system.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for an effective date prior to May 30, 2008, for the grant of service connection for a head scar was dismissed due to untimeliness and non-compliance with claims processing rules.

The Board granted service connection for an eye disability, diagnosed as a left eye peripheral corneal scar and bilateral dry dye syndrome.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection and a compensable rating due to untimely filings or deferrals.

The Board denied an increased rating for right knee limitation of flexion but granted a separate 10 percent rating for the meniscal condition. The claims for shin pain and bilateral shins scars were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial, compensable disability rating for service-connected scars on her anterior trunk.

The Board granted the restoration of a 40 percent rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, effective May 1, 2024, due to an improper reduction in rating without following proper procedural guidelines.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted a compensable rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's right eye corneal scar with bilateral dry eye syndrome, prior to October 1, 2014.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability ratings for various burn and painful scars of the lower extremities to obtain a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 10, 2021 for further development.

The Board denied the claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, as the Veteran was not receiving or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least 10 years immediately preceding death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, finding that no evidence supported an earlier date of claim or entitlement.