Scars Board decisions

The Board denied a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right great toe disability.,The Veteran's inguinal hernia and scar from his surgery are not rated higher than their current levels.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for tinnitus as it was granted in a separate decision. The remaining claims of service connection for various disabilities are remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in December 2019 is inadequate and requires further evaluation to determine if there was additional disability due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on VA's part.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment status and his ability to work with his service-connected disabilities. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's eye conditions. The AOJ must obtain new opinions from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he had a substantially gainful employment prior to October 29, 2015 and the evidence does not substantiate a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for facial scars, pain, sinus problems, and a broken nose is dismissed. The Veteran's TBI and associated psychiatric conditions are denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's left thumb scars are rated at 0 percent and right knee painful scars are rated at 10 percent, both under Diagnostic Code 7804. The Board finds that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,There is no service connection theory specified in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and related disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 13, 2012 to March 13, 2013. He is also eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits during this period.

The Veteran's left achilles tendonitis is granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The Board also grants the Veteran a TDIU from March 20, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with his education and work history.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected residual scar from excision of lipoma over left scapula was dismissed. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep condition, as secondary to his service-connected residual scar.

The Veteran's appeal for disability evaluations and reopening of claims has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since May 31, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee scar, right knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder due to new evidence being added to the file.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity weakness, scar tissue of the throat (including difficulty swallowing), cardiac condition including atrial fibrillation and pre-ventricular contractions, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, and prostate injury causing erectile dysfunction are not service-connected.,The Board finds that these conditions were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for reentrance into a VR&E program and eligibility for retroactive payment of education expenses, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not worsen to the extent that he was precluded from performing work duties or that his previously rehabilitated occupation was unsuitable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification of the Veteran's left eye visual acuity measurements and the need for additional opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.