Scars Board decisions

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an initial compensable rating for right ankle scars, leading to the dismissal of this case.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of entitlement to initial compensable evaluations for residuals of a left upper lobe lobectomy and a residual surgical scar from January 22, 2013, to June 9, 2014. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, as it has been over five years since the last examination.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for an eye disability and increased ratings for right knee instability. The reduction in left knee instability rating from 10 to 0 percent was found improper.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, Parkinson's disease, lung condition (claimed as lung scarring due to cancer and emphysema), schizophrenia, right foot condition, and left foot condition. The Veteran was not provided with a VA medical opinion regarding his fingers.,Service connection was denied because the evidence did not establish that any of these conditions were related to service.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from October 1, 2013, to March 1, 2017, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from working in a physical capacity.

The Veteran was granted TDIU and SMC based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active duty.

The Veteran's right knee rating was restored from September 21, 2020. The other issues were remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder and bilateral hearing loss disability, have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acne (with scarring) based on clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for surgical scarring status post cesarean section and revision procedure is denied as the evidence does not show underlying soft tissue damage or an area of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for the Veteran's scar from open reduction internal fixation of fractured distal right fibula, effective February 24, 2014. The decision is based on the Veteran's painful and non-unstable scar.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, Chronic disease, lumbosacral strain, right knee disability, migraines, tinnitus, scar, and hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis and lichen planopilaris with scarring alopecia of the scalp is rated at a maximum 60 percent since December 11, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his employment from January 2016 to March 2019 was considered marginal due to a work-related motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, IBS, left ankle disability, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to April 17, 2018. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been dismissed.,Issues related to service connection, disability ratings, and effective dates are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 26, 2014 due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and an earlier effective date for his scars, finding that the criteria were not met for any of these issues.