Scars Board decisions

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the service connection claims for various conditions due to a need for an updated certificate of discharge determination and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and a compensable evaluation for the veteran's conditions due to lack of formal or informal communication regarding these benefits.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension, but denied higher ratings for scars of the left and right thigh, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, hip and knee osteoarthritis, and service connection for various conditions including erectile dysfunction, lumbar spine pain, TBI, and cervical spine pain.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 0 percent for the Veteran's midline sternotomy scar based on the evidence showing it covers less than 929 square centimeters and is not painful.

The Board granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for the disfiguring nose scar and a 50 percent rating for PTSD, effective September 1, 2024 and September 1, 2022 respectively. The Board also granted TDIU and DEA eligibility.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for eligibility for specially adapted housing, a special home adaptation grant, and financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The claim of CUE in the September 14, 2017, rating decision was also denied.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable initial evaluation rating for lipoma of the right temporal region and service connection for scar, left upper back due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) as she did not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board granted an effective date of October 1, 2022 for the award of service connection for right pes planus and right foot scars.

The Board granted the restoration of a 10 percent rating for sclerotic radial head, right elbow effective June 1, 2022, and denied an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and scars.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right eye conditions due to a lack of substantial compliance with a previous remand.

The Board granted service connection for voiding dysfunction and prostate cancer residuals status post prostatectomy with an effective date of August 4, 2020, but denied the same for ethmoidal sinusitis. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a headache disability were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, except for the grant of an earlier effective date for total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance based on permanent and total disability status.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of March 29, 2016, for the grants of service connection for multiple conditions including hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, scars, kidney disease, femoral artery occlusion, lacunar stroke, erectile dysfunction, cerebral vascular disease, and valvular heart disease.

The Board granted effective dates of August 4, 2021, for several conditions and denied or remanded claims related to other issues.

The Board granted an initial compensable rating of 20 percent for left elbow flexion prior to June 25, 2024 and a 10 percent rating for right elbow flexion prior to the same date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left and right lower extremity dermatitis scars based on the size of the scarring, which did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and service connection, while granting a 30% rating for herpes simplex labialis and service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, chronic cough syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities, right shoulder disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, earlier effective dates for PTSD and non-painful right index finger scar, and a higher rating for painful right index finger scar. However, the Veteran was granted an initial 50 percent rating for service-connected PTSD.