Scars Board decisions

The Board has restored the Veteran's reduced ratings for his functional visual field defect and left upper eyelid scar, as there was no improvement in their ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The increased rating claims for residual surgical scar, right shoulder arthroscopy; left knee mild iliotibial band syndrome; and right shoulder impingement syndrome with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for scars along the jaw near the ears with numbness, but has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability is denied as the evidence does not show that he meets the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his post-surgical spinal fusion scar is denied as the evidence does not show that he has scars associated with underlying tissue damage.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a right ankle scar was denied. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for migraine headaches was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,Service connection for high cholesterol was denied as it is not a disability for which VA compensation can be granted.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left hand disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher disability rating.

The Board has granted effective dates of April 10, 2018 for the service connection awards of migraine headaches, tinnitus, nystagmus, residual scar, right forehead, and residual scar, right pinky finger.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective August 7, 2020 due to service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted service connection with an effective date of July 7, 2011.,An earlier effective date for the cervical spine scar is denied as it arose on January 28, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU, DEA benefits, and SMC prior to October 2, 2017 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability during this period due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran also did not have a permanent total service-connected disability in effect prior to October 2, 2017. Effective April 19, 2021, but no earlier, the Veteran was granted SMC benefits based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's right foot strain, right great toe ingrown toenail, and right heel scar have been rated at 10 percent each since October 18, 2016. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for various conditions as there were no underlying initial claims that were appealable to the Board at the time of the Veteran's January 25, 2022 VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a buttocks scar, post cyst removal is dismissed. The claims for service connection of migraine headaches in the period prior to April 27, 2020, ED, right arm rheumatoid arthritis, and left arm rheumatoid arthritis are remanded.

The Board has determined that no single service-connected disability other than PTSD with unspecified dissociative disorder alone precludes the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU based on a single service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right thumb scar was granted service connection. The claims for left hip pain and neurological condition of the right upper extremity are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, leading the Board to grant TDIU.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of November 1, 2019 for service connection to be established for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and status post left knee arthroscopy meniscus tear repair, and scar.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee scar existed prior to service and if it was caused or aggravated by military service.

Your initial rating for your service-connected scar of the midsternal chest has been set at 10 percent. You have appealed this decision, but as you did not follow the appropriate administrative review options, your appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of October 27, 2016, for a 10% rating for his painful right knee scar. The earliest effective date allowed by the record is October 27, 2016, as the Veteran has continuously pursued his claim since then.