Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left recurrent ingrown toenail disabilities have been granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The disabilities are characterized as moderately severe under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the residuals of a January 2011 colonoscopy and subsequent medical interventions, finding that the complications were not caused by VA's fault or an unforeseeable event.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for initial compensable rating for right knee scars and increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as of July 24, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's multiple painful scars, including those on the right upper back and lumbar spine, are rated at 20 percent throughout the appeal period. The rating for his lumbar spine disability is granted from October 3, 2014, with a 40 percent rating. A compensable rating is granted for his femoral radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar scar, finding that there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition pre-existed service and was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and private treatment records. The AOJ must schedule a VA aid and attendance examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him in the regular need of aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's vision problems, specifically whether they are related to herbicide agent exposure and if they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis and bibasilar pulmonary scarring, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran was unable to obtain and maintain employment due to his service-connected disabilities from July 20, 2006 to May 17, 2014. The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU during this period.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to untranslated Spanish documents in the claims folder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities. Service connection is granted for a low back disorder (lumbar strain) and scars of the neck.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome. His bilateral pes planus was granted a 10% rating prior to October 22, 2017 and a 30% rating thereafter. The facial scars are not considered incurred in service.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection and ratings in excess of 20 percent, 30 percent, or compensable for various conditions. The RO granted service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew all her service connection claims for ventral hernia, endometriosis, residuals of uterine cancer/uterine prolapse, and an increased rating for an abdominal scar. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, tension headaches, cervical spine degenerative joint disease and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 26, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.