Scars Board decisions

An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted.,An initial 10 percent rating for right knee arthritis is granted, effective January 29, 2021.

The Veteran's keratitis and right eye corneal scarring have been granted a 10 percent disability rating, effective October 22, 2018. The decision is based on the visual field defects in both eyes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for scars on the head, face, or neck and headaches due to inadequate examination in determining their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including leukemia, left ankle and knee conditions, tinnitus, skull scars, and lower leg issues, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection and rating for various disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a bilateral foot disability and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 31, 2011. An earlier effective date of December 31, 2011, for the award of TDIU is granted.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer residuals and lung scars, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease prior to August 29, 2019 was denied. A separate issue of entitlement to an initial 10 percent rating for his anterior chest scar (CABG) was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's headaches began during service and are granted as service-connected.,There is no current diagnosis of TBI, but the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident does not meet the criteria for a TBI. The right corneal scar from an in-service injury is also granted as service-connected.,While hyperopia and astigmatism were diagnosed during service, there is insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service. The Veteran's current eye disorders are not related to service.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of a right corneal scar due to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims of instability from left knee status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, initial compensable rating for functional impact of right knee benign tumor excision, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tumor excision scar due to incomplete documentation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral foot conditions, make it impossible for him to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that the evidence is in an approximate balance as to whether he can perform the physical and mental acts required by such employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence at the time of the previous rating decisions. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been found to warrant a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of cataracts due to a duty to assist error. The chest scar disability rating issue remains under review.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of August 7, 2017. His eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also granted as of this date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his Parkinson's disease and related conditions rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 and TDIU are remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide an adequate examination.

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for GERD, right knee osteoarthritis, painful right knee scar, bilateral hearing loss, left thumb disability, left thumb scar, and left hip muscle strain (flexion) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient information about his employment history and educational background.

The Veteran's scars associated with his liver transplant are rated at 20 percent effective July 18, 2017. Prior to this date, the scars were not considered unstable or painful.