Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were evaluated and some ratings were reduced, while others were granted or maintained.,Service connection was established for a right leg discrepancy disability.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of September 29, 2016 for the grant of Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Basic Eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).,An effective date of September 29, 2016 was assigned due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's IHD is rated at a maximum of 60 percent effective October 5, 2020.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was established as of the same date.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings for hypothyroidism and a surgical chest scar have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating for either condition.,No compensable ratings were assigned as there was no evidence of myxedema, painful or unstable scars, or underlying soft tissue damage.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for bilateral heel spur and bilateral tibial stress fracture are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for right knee instability, left thigh scars, bilateral eye disorder, and bilateral heel spurs are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on several conditions has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for scars of face and scar of back and pelvic region due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for bilateral heel spur and bilateral tibial stress fracture are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left lower extremity peripheral artery disease and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, result in the loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing due to these conditions.

The Veteran's skin cancer residual scars of the head, face, or neck have not been manifested by visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features; or four or five characteristics of disfigurement. As such, a higher rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his scars is remanded to determine if the scars are unstable.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been remanded due to the need for further medical examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased and reduced ratings related to various knee, hip, and shoulder conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable, as the average pure tone threshold does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's gynecomastia mastectomy scar is not compensable under DC 7802 due to its small size and lack of instability or pain.

The Veteran's claims for dental scars, HTN, right arm burn scar, and loss of teeth are all remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and a need for an examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to the issue of timeliness of a Notice of Disagreement because the Veteran's April 2, 2024 submission clarified his intent for the January 22, 2021 submission.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection awards of fracture of right arm and humerus s/p shoulder surgery (dominant) associated with hypertension and residual scar, s/p right shoulder surgery associated with fracture or right arm and humerus s/p shoulder surgery (dominant), as there was no basis to grant such claims.

The Veteran's death was attributed to myocardial infarction and cardiac insufficiency. The VA examiner opined that the service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, but there is a need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the cause of death.