Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, as his non-service-connected conditions limit his ability to live independently.

The Veteran's claims for scars residuals of basal cell carcinoma are remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) with consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran was granted service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, herpes simplex, insomnia and nightmare disorder, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, etc., effective August 1, 2017.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a scar residual of a left arm vaccination is granted. The right wrist disability and tinnitus cases are denied, with the right wrist case being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss remains pending as additional examination and medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 2, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is still capable of sedentary work.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of discoloration of the face was granted. The appeal for a compensable evaluation for left eye corneal scar is remanded.

The Veteran's scar, residual of a shrapnel wound of the right leg, is granted a 10 percent rating. The Veteran’s dermatophytosis of the feet and crural region is denied an increased disability evaluation. The Veteran’s PTSD is granted a 50 percent disability rating. The Veteran’s diabetes mellitus is denied an increased disability evaluation.

The Veteran's initial ratings for residual scar, right knee status-post arthroscopy and meniscectomy and right ankle strain have been granted. The rating for the right leg length discrepancy associated with right femur fracture remains at a non-compensable level.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic multiple lipomatosis with scars status post lipoma removal, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability renders him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the requirements for a TDIU. Additionally, he is eligible for SMC at the housebound rate due to his combined rating of 60 percent or more from additional service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and hypertension, have rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability, specifically his range of motion and functional impairment. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for left eye corneal scar, claimed as left eye droop, should be remanded due to incomplete record development and potential need for additional medical evidence or examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing the issues of attorney fees and increased disability rating.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for a painful scar on the Veteran's left leg, but denied any higher ratings for his service-connected left leg burn residuals.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, but the appellant paid for his burial expenses and filed a timely claim. The Board found that the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits were met.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for the left eyebrow scar was denied, as it did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 70 percent rating, reflecting occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.