Scars Board decisions

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for service-connected scars of the right foot, effective February 2, 2016. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these scars have been painful throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment before January 6, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing or incomplete records, and for additional medical opinions regarding his eye conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or housebound status, as he does not require personal assistance from others and is not substantially confined to his dwelling.

The Veteran's appeals for disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for various conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for four issues related to left shoulder conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his left ear hearing loss, incision scar posterior neck, and cervical spine disability are denied. The claim for service connection for TBI is remanded.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 10 percent, which does not meet the threshold for dependency compensation benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected residual scar of a stab wound to the left chest does not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as his education, skills, training, and work history are sufficient for employment.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 22, 2021, for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not show a complete claim was received within one year of the intent to file.,VA has also determined that an effective date prior to July 22, 2021, for SMC based on anatomical loss of use of the bilateral breasts is not warranted due to lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for lumbosacral strain, sciatic nerve left lower extremity radiculopathy of the lumbar spine, left foot injury, and sciatic nerve right lower extremity radiculopathy of the lumbar spine have been dismissed as freestanding claims without a request for reconsideration based on clear and unmistakable error in prior final rating decisions.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for scar of the left lower extremity has also been dismissed. The Board found no evidence that can be construed as a claim for this condition prior to August 26, 2019.

The Veteran's combined schedular disability ratings meet the minimum requirements for consideration of a TDIU, and her service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to satisfy a statutory or regulatory duty regarding the timeliness and adequacy of the Veteran's notice of disagreement for the issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for scars, status post right ring finger amputation.

The Veteran's service-connected inguinal hernia is rated as noncompensable due to the absence of true hernia protrusion and no current symptoms.,The Veteran's scar, status-post right inguinal hernia repair surgery, warrants a 10% disability rating based on its painful nature.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in physical loss of use of one or both hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, severe burn injury precluding effective operation of an automobile, ALS, or ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips. Therefore, the Veteran does not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance to purchase a vehicle and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right clavicle fracture, as the previous evaluation was inadequate. The Veteran also seeks an increased evaluation for scarring associated with ORIF surgery.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted effective dates of August 31, 2009 for the awards of service connection for left knee instability, left knee surgical scars, and right knee surgical scar. The effective date is based on the date of claim rather than the date entitlement arose.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, and right hip conditions, rendered him unemployable as of August 30, 2015. The Board granted an effective date for the TDIU award on this date.