Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for an appendectomy scar and the establishment of additional benefits for her spouse and child are granted with an effective date of March 8, 2013.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's chorioretinal scar of the left eye, finding that it did not result in any impairment of visual acuity or muscle function.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar of the right eyebrow and remanded the issue of service connection for skin cancer of the face, including malignant melanoma.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent before March 23, 2017. From March 23, 2017 to December 15, 2019, a rating of 40 percent was granted. After that date, the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for aortic stenosis, painful anterior scars, and multiple scars of the anterior trunk. The remand is due to further development needed as to whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and right knee scar to their previous levels, effective July 1, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 13, 2014. Therefore, the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted with an effective date of July 31, 2011.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC based on loss of a creative organ, as these grants were assigned the earliest possible effective date following separation from active duty.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA examination reports and considering all evidence added since the November 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not limit or prevent participation in the avocational interests of exercise, photography, and music. The Board denied the request for VR&E benefits to purchase a music keyboard, stationary and electric bicycles, and camera as part of his avocational activities.

The Veteran's retinal scar of the right eye is rated at 20 percent, but not more. The left hip disability was denied as it did not begin during active service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from April 30, 2009 to August 9, 2009.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for post-operative scars from right ankle and left humerus surgeries are granted effective January 7, 2014, to May 20, 2021.,For the period since May 21, 2021, a higher rating is denied as there is no evidence of deep or non-linear scars or functional limitation.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's thyroidectomy and service. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the main issue of service connection for a total thyroidectomy.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent, and the right knee disability is rated at 50 percent. The Veteran seeks increased ratings for these conditions.,SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status from March 1, 2021 was denied as he does not meet the criteria.

The Board granted a single 30 percent rating for squamous cell carcinoma scars of the head, face, or neck (including on the left ear, left law line, right ear, right jaw line, and right cheek) based on disfigurement under Diagnostic Code 7800.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for lung cancer residuals from January 22, 2013 to June 9, 2014 was denied as there is no evidence of respiratory residuals related to the left upper lobectomy during this period.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for residual surgical scar, left upper lobectomy, was denied due to lack of evidence of chronic pain or other disabling effects from the surgery.

The Board has decided to remand three of the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's scars and shoulder disabilities are granted, with a specific rating for the scar and service connection established for both shoulders.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability, right knee scars, and spontaneous pneumothorax due to incomplete development of the record.