Scars Board decisions

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 5, 2023, for a 100 percent rating for MDD and SMC based on housebound criteria. However, it granted service connection for right ear painful scar, right ear surgical scar, and sleep apnea with an effective date of November 30, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, right elbow flexion limitation, and left anterior scalp scar. It also granted a 20 percent rating for the right elbow flexion and a 10 percent rating for the left anterior scalp scar. The claims for higher ratings were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable disability rating or service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The veteran was granted a disability evaluation of 40 percent for ventral hernia from April 22, 2024 to May 19, 2024 and 60 percent from May 19, 2024. The other claims were denied.

The Board granted service connection for lung scarring and remanded the other issues for further development.

The Board granted an effective date of November 20, 2012, and no earlier, for the grant of eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 USC chapter 35 but denied earlier effective dates for service connection claims and increased ratings.

The veteran withdrew the appeal by way of a February 2024 Statement in Support of Claim, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of Hodgkin's lymphoma, scars secondary to Hodgkin's lymphoma, and vitiligo as secondary to Hodgkin's lymphoma, all based on the PACT Act.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for hearing loss, right and left wrist pain, a lung condition, and an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's scar, right hand.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for residuals of lung cancer and denied a compensable rating for right lobectomy scars, while granting a separate 10 percent rating for painful right lobectomy scars.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for epilepsy, psychomotor and service connection for right middle finger scar. Several claims were withdrawn and dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to need regular aid and attendance, granting special monthly compensation.

The Board granted an initial 100 percent disability rating for the Veteran's abdominal aortic aneurysms, status-post AAA repair.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation due to not meeting the legal criteria.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's residuals, status post bilateral inguinal hernia repair and granted a 10 percent evaluation for surgical scars, status-post bilateral inguinal hernia repair.

The Board granted an effective date of January 7, 2011, for a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis and February 13, 2012, for service connection for painful (tender) surgical scars of the lower back.

The Board remands the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a urethral disorder, as it failed to obtain an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a higher rating for oropharyngeal cancer s/p surgical removal with residual scars, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board granted service connection for recurrent tinnitus, left ankle disability, and left lower ear scar but denied service connection for hair loss. The Board also denied initial compensable ratings for tinea pedis and rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and spinal fusion scar as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or are related to an in-service injury.