Scars Board decisions

The Veteran was granted a special monthly compensation (SMC) based on entitlement to SMC(l) for being so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, effective December 17, 2010.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis associated with the left foot bunionectomy and a 10 percent rating for residual surgical scar, status post left foot bunionectomy. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased rating due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent for basal cell carcinoma of the nose with actinic keratosis, but denied earlier effective date and a compensable rating for right nasal wall scar.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's appendectomy scars as they do not meet the criteria for a 10% or higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for service-connected fasciotomy scars on his right and left lower extremities, as the evidence did not support a finding of any functional impact or other criteria necessary for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for a nose disability and denied increased ratings for right little finger residual pain and surgical scars, finding no current disabilities or evidence supporting the claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma on the back and basal cell carcinoma affecting the cheek and face, as there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not associating with the claims folder records within VA's constructive possession.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, except for granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an initial compensable rating, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating for her service-connected conditions.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied it for chronic female issues, while remanding the claims for right hand basal cell carcinoma, jaw basal cell carcinoma, and lymphomas.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending Board appeals and is satisfied with his 100 percent combined rating.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and granted an initial 30 percent rating for vertigo, while denying higher ratings or service connection for other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for trigeminal neuralgia with vestibulocochlear neuralgia, right ear scar (head/neck) post cholesteatoma surgery, and right ear painful scar post cholesteatoma surgery.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for various conditions as they were duplicative of other appeals.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for right knee strain with instability and an initial 10 percent rating for the surgical scar of the back, but denied a higher rating for right knee strain with limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for calcification in the left testicle consistent with scar tissue.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent rating from March 6, 2015. The claims for an initial compensable rating and earlier effective date for the head scar are denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50 percent rating, and the right eyebrow scar is granted a separate 10 percent rating for pain. The other service connection claims are remanded.