Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right foot scar is granted, effective from August 1, 2013. The claims of service connection for renal/genitourinary disorder and left ear hearing loss disability are denied. A new and material evidence petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left ankle disability has been granted.

The Veteran's skin condition, left knee strain, and lumbar strain have been rated appropriately throughout the appellate period. The Veteran's skin condition is at its maximum schedular rating of 60 percent. His left knee strain has a uniform 10 percent rating for painful motion. His lumbar strain does not meet criteria for any higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected epilepsy, grand mal type, was found to be the underlying cause of his fatal cardiac arrest. The appellant is therefore entitled to VA burial benefits at the service-connected rate.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to July 27, 2016 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA eligibility was denied as the evidence did not establish that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to April 24, 2009.

The Veteran's right TKR, right knee scar, left TKR (secondary to now service-connected right knee disability), low back pain (diagnosed as degenerative disc changes) and right foot drop are all granted. The effective date for the grant of SMC based on loss of use of one hand is set at December 18, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a TDIU and DEA prior to October 13, 2015 due to issues being inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his peripheral neuropathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and ischemic heart disease. The issues are related to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the right knee scar claim has been granted. The other two claims remain pending as they are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle arthritis and PTSD have been granted service connection. The initial disability rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent, effective from March 21, 2014. Bilateral hearing loss, headaches, acid reflux, residual scar, right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, sciatica (left lower extremity), and sciatica (right lower extremity) have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for abdominal scar, back disability, and hypertension as he was unable to attend VA examinations due to incarceration. The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable efforts to schedule new VA examinations in accordance with the VA Adjudication Procedure Manual.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,For his coronary artery disease, the Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 28, 2017 and 30 percent from that date onwards. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on METs levels or other criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder is granted a 70% rating from March 26, 2015 forward. A 10% rating for the appendectomy scar prior to March 26, 2015 is granted. The Veteran is also granted TDIU status from July 14, 2017 forward.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his left knee, multiple painful and unstable scars, multiple other scars, and tinnitus have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for a psychiatric disability secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial claim for a right knee scar was denied, and he is now seeking an increased rating.,For the period prior to October 18, 2019, his right knee scar has been rated as zero percent. The Board found that this rating is not appropriate given the symptoms described.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all remaining issues on appeal, including those related to the conditions listed and service connection theories.

The Veteran's calcified granulomas of the lungs with associated pulmonary scarring are currently rated at 10 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on current medical evidence and VA examination findings.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.,There is no evidence of an in-service event or disease related to her bilateral eye disorder. Service connection is denied.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death, as no order granting substitution has been issued.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 31, 2014, for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 31, 2013, for the grant of service connection for surgical scar is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 31, 2013, for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) is denied.