Scars Board decisions

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with grade I spondylolisthesis and a lumbar scar do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to February 4, 2016, were denied. The fracture of the left humerus was rated at 20 percent, while the scar on the left anterior humerus was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to January 15, 2016. As of that date, his combined rating was at least 70 percent and he received a TDIU due to the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's right forearm scar is granted a 10% disability rating effective December 4, 2017.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. The service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide-agent exposure is also granted.,A compensable disability rating for the right forearm scar prior to December 4, 2017, is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not preclude all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including right eye epiretinal membrane and chorioretinal scars, glaucoma, and bilateral pseudophakia (cataracts), was granted a 60 percent rating effective November 2, 2018. The decision also addressed the Veteran’s cervical spine disability.

The Board has found that the VA examinations were inadequate for rating purposes and remanded the case for further development. The issues of entitlement to separate ratings for right knee lateral aspect scar, left knee lateral instability, and right knee lateral instability are all being remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from August 1, 2014 is granted. The Board also dismissed the issues of increased ratings for lumbar strain post-operative fusion and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 10, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including CAD and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and a scar due to the bypass surgery has been dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or substantially confined to his home prior to October 31, 2017. Therefore, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound criteria was denied.

The Veteran's painful facial scars associated with service-connected chronic sinusitis are not rated higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's disfiguring facial scars associated with service-connected chronic sinusitis are not rated higher than 30 percent.,The Veteran's loss of taste associated with service-connected chronic sinusitis is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy, as well as service connection for surgical scars, were denied. His claim of service connection for a TBI was reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is granted a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision. The other issues are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's scarring of the head, face or neck is rated at 50 percent effective August 12, 2017. The rating for his malunion of the mandible remains at 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative changes of the right hand and wrist, and scars of the right hand due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial and subsequent ratings for his left knee disability, left shoulder disability, PTSD, and residual scar related to the chin are being remanded due to procedural issues and need for additional medical examinations.