Scars Board decisions

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. Claims for higher ratings for low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, surgical scars, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were remanded.

The Board remanded all issues to obtain new medical opinions on the veteran's service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for facial scars because there is no evidence of a current disability or diagnosis of facial scarring.

The veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for left knee instability and a scar on the chest was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.

The veteran's effective date for service connection for left upper extremity traumatic neuropathy is granted as March 13, 2019. The effective date prior to May 4, 2020, for a separate 20 percent rating for painful scars of the left elbow is denied.

The Board remanded all issues for further development of evidence. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being sent back to the Regional Office for additional medical opinions.

The veteran's appeal for service connection of multiple conditions was dismissed because the veteran withdrew her appeal.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. A compensable rating for left lower extremity surgery scar is denied. All other issues are remanded.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee issues, lumbosacral strain, and tinnitus were denied. However, service connection for a gluteal scar was granted.

The veteran's request for a disability rating above 70% for PTSD was denied, but they were granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to their service-connected PTSD.

The appeal was dismissed because the veteran died while it was pending. The dismissal does not affect the right of an eligible person to take the Veteran's place to continue the appeal on the pending claim(s).

The veteran's claim for a higher rating before September 2021 was denied, but a separate 10% rating for chorioretinal scars was granted.

The veteran's request for a higher rating for chronic lumbar strain was denied, but the issue of total disability due to service-connected disabilities was remanded for further review.

The veteran claimed total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) related to his service-connected diabetes and heart disease. The Board granted TDIU on a schedular basis from January 22, 2019, and on an extraschedular basis from February 15, 2013, to January 21, 2019, finding his part-time courier work constituted marginal employment in a protected environment due to the severity of his combined service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, severe burn injury, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Therefore, he does not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance with adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 3, 2021.

The veteran is granted a combined rating of 20 percent for scars from a left-side thoracotomy. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is remanded.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left and right hand scarring were denied. The appeals for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral hand conditions (other than scarring), as well as a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable disabilities, were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance for an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment was denied. The claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance was remanded.

The veteran withdrew their appeal, so the Board dismissed all issues.