Scars Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for initial compensable ratings for scar, left knee status post meniscus repair and onychomycosis, bilateral great toes as they are no longer relevant due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of direct service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as there was no in-service diagnosis or event linked to his current condition. For PTSD, the Board noted that while the Veteran had occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as chronic mood disturbances and sleep impairment, these were not sufficient to meet the criteria for a 70% rating under DC 9411.

The Veteran's bilateral posterior subcapsular cataracts are rated at 70 percent prior to May 23, 2018. The additional conditions of diabetic retinopathy and optic atrophy have been considered in determining the appropriate disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spondylosis and spinal stenosis at L4-5 lumbar spine with associated radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for a sinus condition and increased disability ratings for otitis media, non-suppurative, right ear with loss of hearing (ear infection), and scar, right posterior ear have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition and remanded the respiratory condition claim due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to asbestos during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected scar, right neck, residual of squamous cell carcinoma, right tonsil is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an updated examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical fusion and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 28, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for scrub typhus residuals, finding that the Veteran does not have a current residual of scrub typhus and that his heart condition is unrelated to his in-service infection.

The Veteran's scar disability, left fibula fracture, right tibia fracture, and right femur fracture are all denied prior to specific dates. The lower back disorder service connection is remanded. TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.,Seizures have not met the criteria for higher ratings since September 23, 2019.

The Veteran's shrapnel scars and left medial thigh injury are granted increased ratings of 20 percent, but no higher. Bilateral hip arthritis is also granted a separate rating of 20 percent.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for thyroid enlargement, non-toxic, status post left thyroidectomy and thyroid goiter excision, anterior neck surgical scar (partial thyroidectomy and excision of 7.5 cm. goiter), and gallbladder stones, post-operative as moot due to the grant of these conditions in a February 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including back disability and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 19, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for all issues related to post-operative scarring of the right groin area and abdomen, as well as a temporary total disability evaluation due to treatment for service-connected disability requiring convalescence beyond one month. The appellant withdrew these appeals prior to the decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 11, 2016.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is being remanded to determine if his in-service motor vehicle accident contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient opinions provided in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased ratings in several service-connected conditions, and the Board has remanded for further examination of his bilateral knee disabilities and pulmonary sarcoidosis.