Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability does not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable by reason of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and ratings, effective from the date of the July 2016 phone call.

The Veteran's claim for corneal scar, right eye, and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been granted. The esophagus disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines has been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current migraines began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is being remanded due to pending claims regarding earlier effective dates. The Board will also consider whether he qualifies for SMC at the housebound rate prior to September 14, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and new effective dates were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his left knee scar prior to February 4, 2014, but granted a separate 10 percent rating from June 6, 2016, through May 5, 2017, and extended this rating forward to the present. The Veteran's hypertension was also found not to meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating higher than 30 percent for left eye chorioretinal scar prior to November 4, 2009.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis from December 1, 2012 to July 11, 2013. The claim for TDIU prior to December 1, 2012 is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of facial scars, finding that no formal or informal claim was submitted prior to January 8, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise or reverse the September 1969 rating decisions that assigned initial ratings for shell fragment wound scars affecting his right arm, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity. The decision found no CUE in these determinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for scar, residuals from gunshot wound left hand is denied. The case of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience, leading to a TDIU effective August 31, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left flank scar is a residual of his in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's abdominal scarring is granted a 10% evaluation, and his gastric ulcer remains at a 20% evaluation. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his gastrointestinal symptoms.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated employment information and a new examination to assess his employability.

The Veteran's claims for chronic headaches, diabetes mellitus, facial scars, left eye vision loss, and an acquired psychiatric disability were all denied as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated as non-compensable, and the Board has found that his condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's scar, status-post removal of sebaceous cyst, was remanded due to an inadequate post-remand examination without color photographs.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his non-service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the concurrent assignment of a 100 percent rating for service-connected disabilities and SMC benefits. The SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance claim is denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran requires regular aid and assistance.