Scars Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an abdominal scar, finding that it is not related to his service-connected prostate cancer and is instead a result of surgery unrelated to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for facial scars prior to December 7, 2018 due to inadequate retrospective VA medical opinion. Another remand is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unemployable, and thus denied her claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and entitlement to TDIU prior to August 15, 2013. The Veteran's employment at ML was not considered marginal or in a protected environment, and his gross earnings exceeded the poverty threshold.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal concerning higher ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection for chronic renal failure, hypertension, and surgical scars.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right knee, PTSD and alcohol abuse, episodic, GERD, cervical spine spondylosis, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate development. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for a residual scar, left middle low back, status-post gunshot wound (GSW) iliac crest fracture surgery is granted. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to delays in contacting him and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran needs to provide additional evidence, including authorization for treatment records, and the RO should schedule another VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability and an eye disability due to lack of contemporaneous records. The scar on head status post injury with laceration claim is denied as there is no evidence meeting the criteria for a compensable rating prior to May 10, 2019, or greater than 10 percent thereafter.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims and rating appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right thumb arthritis and right wrist disability, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 6, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the character of the Appellant’s discharge and service connection for painful scar, left thumb, and residuals of fracture of left fifth finger. The AOJ is instructed to request information from the NBCNR regarding the appellant's application for a discharge upgrade.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the right knee post-operative scar, status-post arthroplasty scar, and painful right knee scar have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.,Further development is needed to determine if there are additional scars or complications related to the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment prior to October 18, 2019. The Board denied the TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation before November 26, 2018. His TDIU is granted for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left cheek scar, finding that it is a result of an injury incurred while on active duty training.

The Veteran's mood disorder is rated at 70 percent since January 29, 2013. The Board also granted TDIU and SMC based on statutory housebound status effective June 9, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the left elbow. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to lack of evidence regarding in-service exposure and other procedural matters.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, specifically requesting a VA examination to address inconsistencies in the Veteran's leg length discrepancy and its relation to his lumbosacral strain.