Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a scar, status post discectomy lumbar spine are dismissed as they were not part of the AMA appeal system.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as an initial compensable rating for a forehead scar.,There is no evidence of any current bilateral knee disorder that began during active service or is related to in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's bilateral eye injury with corneal scars did not result in an irregular, duplicated, enlarged, or diminished image and did not cause incapacitating episodes during the relevant period. Therefore, a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (right knee degenerative joint disease, right knee instability, left ankle fracture, and left ankle scar) are rated at a combined 40 percent prior to June 1, 2017. The Board finds that these conditions do not render the Veteran unemployable for substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to September 11, 2011 is being remanded due to failure to refer it for extraschedular consideration.

The VA denied the Veteran's appeal as the withholding of compensation benefits to recoup separation pay in the amount of $18,660.07 was proper.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left wrist scar and eczema are being remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) with respect to additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hamstring muscle tear and a scar on the right knee due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for left thigh scars and right and left leg scars are granted, with a maximum rating of 20 percent for the left thigh scars and 10 percent for the right and left leg scars.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 6, 2017 for the grant of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and scars. The decision is based on the finality of previous rating decisions and the lack of a pending claim before the current effective date.

The Veteran is granted a 30% rating for his service-connected neck scars and cervical tuberculosis adenitis, effective January 27, 1997.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorder with radiculopathy, a scar (neck), and left upper extremity radiculopathy. However, the effective dates for these grants are denied as they were not based on new evidence or SDRs.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU, as well as his initial claim of a 10 percent rating for his midline lumbar scar. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew these claims during his hearing.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the claims of service connection for CAD, high blood pressure, DM, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and scars. The claims are being remanded due to concerns about herbicide exposure near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 10, 2017. The Board has determined that the criteria for TDIU were met as of January 10, 2016.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for a scar on the back of the neck. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include posttraumatic stress disorder, right knee limitations, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and other conditions. The evidence shows that the Veteran requires significant assistance with daily activities such as dressing, bathing, grooming, and attending to hygiene needs.

The Veteran's esophageal carcinoma status post esophagectomy with recurrent anastomotic stricture is rated at 30 percent, and the evidence does not show that it permits liquids only.,The Veteran's scars are rated based on their size under the current VA rating criteria. The pre-August 13, 2018 ratings were used for these cases.,Neither of the Veteran's scar disabilities meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran has withdrawn all of his pending claims and appeals, including those related to bronchitis, dermatitis, tremors, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee strain, low back strain, multiple scars on the left side of body, sinusitis with headaches, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome.