Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's right arm scar due to gunshot wound residuals is denied for a compensable rating prior to October 17, 2019 and a rating in excess of 10 percent since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches and back issues, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, right tibia distal fracture, degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, and scars from lumbar spine fusion, render him so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board granted the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has restored the 10% rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee scar from March 20, 2017 to March 1, 2019. The cases of left and right total knee replacements are remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance based on the use of a right foot orthotic device was denied because there is no record of him using such an orthotic in 2020 or 2021.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings for various radiculopathy conditions and a left knee scar, as these decisions were not initial decisions under the AMA.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings for right and left shoulder surgical scars prior to May 7, 2019 were denied. From that date onwards, a 10 percent rating was granted for both the right and left shoulder surgical scars.

The Veteran's right thumb tendon repair is granted a 50 percent rating, effective from the date of remand. The TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left knee scars, finding that they did not meet the criteria for any of the applicable diagnostic codes and that there was no evidence of underlying soft tissue damage or other disabling effects.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2013. However, he was marginally employed from September 9, 2008 to December 31, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted as it is proximately due to his obesity caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,Service connection for a right upper arm scar is granted. The scar is considered ancillary to the Veteran's service-connected right upper arm disabilities.

The Veteran's abdominal scars and painful abdominal scars have been rated based on their current status, with the right ankle scar being noncompensable. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraines, and physical impairments of the right shoulder, knees, back, and eyes, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective November 2, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee sprain, right eye laceration scar, and TBI due to incomplete medical records and failure to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's scars, multiple sites, are granted a disability rating of 30 percent prior to May 23, 2022, and beginning May 23, 2022. The highest schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 7804 is awarded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's skin condition, including marked fibrosis, atrophy, and scarring of the scalp (nuchal keloid), folliculitis associated with ingrown hair, alopecia, and other symptoms, is rated as 50 percent since April 9, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for service-connected residuals of inguinal hernia repair and a scar associated with those residuals, finding that there was no evidence of recurrent hernias or unstable scars.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease, PTSD, and lumbar spine scar) do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.