Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis with gout and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's linear lower posterior middle back scar, but remanded the issues of higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI and asthma have been withdrawn.,The appeal regarding an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right eye disability is being remanded due to the need for clarification on the etiology of additional diagnoses noted in post-service medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for a chest scar has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the cases of his coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, insomnia, tobacco abuse, and substance abuse have been denied. The Veteran also has had his initial ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, left hip sprain with degenerative arthritis, residuals of left knee injury, status-post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and medial meniscus repair with degenerative arthritis and scars, left knee instability, right knee sprain with degenerative joint disease, and residuals of left thumb injury denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the failure to afford him an informal teleconference with a Decision Review Officer (DRO) as requested in his previous requests.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in service. The claims for reopening of diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, and skin disability are remanded due to new evidence. Other service connection claims are also remanded.

The Board granted a maximum rating of 30 percent for the status-post fasciotomy due to compartment syndrome of the left lower extremity, MG XI, from March 22, 2010. The other claims were denied.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 13, 2012, and dismissed the claims for increased ratings for varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to neck disability, change in color in the hands, headaches, weakness in the arm and numbness in the fingers, peripheral neuropathy of the chest wall, rib fractures status-post thoracotomy, penetrating muscle injury of the left chest, surgical scar of the left chest, painful surgical scar of the left chest, hypertension, left elbow degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to May 13, 2013. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,The Veteran's appeal also includes requests for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for penetrating muscle injury of the left chest, surgical scar of the left chest, and painful surgical scar of the left chest.

The Veteran was granted SMC at the housebound rate effective December 10, 2010 due to service-connected major depression.,SMC for loss of use of both feet was granted effective December 3, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as he is not substantially confined to his house due to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's linear scars of the left lower extremity have been granted a 30% rating since August 13, 2021. The previous ratings for painful surgical scars and non-linear scarring were reduced or removed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective dates for the granted benefits are not earlier than October 19, 2018.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, head injury, scar above the left eye, and anal fissure. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are based on presumptive service connection due to noise exposure in service.

The Board has granted service connection for a head scar, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not incurred during his active duty service. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 21, 2021. The Veteran's ankle disabilities have been increased to 30 percent each.,The Veteran's surgical scar of the left ankle is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a stab wound residual and deep vein thrombosis with pseudoaneurysm in the right lower extremity, are deemed to impact his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The case is being remanded for further consideration by the Director of Compensation Service regarding entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.