Scars Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's painful scars status post left shoulder surgery are not both painful and unstable, thus denying a rating in excess of 20 percent. The case is remanded for further development to determine if additional residuals from his surgeries have occurred and whether his right shoulder disability is related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral defective hearing loss, headaches associated with TBI, tinnitus, scar of right thigh, and TBI, preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience. The Board has determined that the criteria for a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities have been met.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the reduction of her disability rating for her right eye corneal scar from 30% to noncompensable effective August 1, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his scars and ankle disability have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not unemployable solely due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected painful left facial keloid scar and right inguinal hernia scar are being remanded for further evaluation due to the VA examiner not addressing the Veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to issues related to his lung cancer residuals and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to November 10, 2015 was denied as the combined disability rating did not meet the minimum schedular criteria. The SMC claim since November 10, 2015 is remanded due to insufficient efforts in obtaining private medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as residuals of stroke. Service connection was denied for scars on the back of leg and feet.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected post back surgery syndrome and TDIU claims are also being remanded.

The Board has granted payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical treatment received at Banner Del Webb Medical Center on October 15, 2011 due to a prudent layperson's expectation that immediate medical attention was necessary.

The Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities required care and assistance on a regular basis to dress herself, prepare meals, keep herself clean and presentable, attend to the wants of nature, and protect her from the hazards or dangers inherent in her daily environment. As such, she is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and COPD disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records not yet obtained. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him disabled to the extent that he requires regular aid and assistance of another person, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance from August 7, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hammertoes, hypertension, muscle and joint disorders of various body parts, upper and lower gastrointestinal tract disorders, eye disorder, sleep apnea, surgical scars, and headache disorder due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for scars from lacerations to the left middle and ring fingers is denied prior to July 17, 2018. A 10 percent rating for residual functional impairment from laceration to the left middle finger is granted beginning July 17, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for residuals of partial gastrectomy for ulcer disease, residuals of partial gastrectomy scar, and incisional ventral hernia. The VA must obtain any outstanding treatment records from the San Juan VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has granted a TDIU from April 25, 2013, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,An effective date earlier than December 18, 2015 for the award of service connection for an anterior left elbow scar has also been denied.