Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities were denied. The left hip disability is rated at 10 percent, the thoracic spine disability at 10 percent, and the right anterior chest scar and burn residuals of the right ankle are both noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, right breast scar, and right forearm scar are each rated at the initial 10 percent level.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination for the left knee. The TDIU claim is also being addressed.

The Veteran's muscle group XXI disability, resulting from a shell fragment wound to the right chest with retained foreign body and scars, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that this rating should be increased to 20 percent based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right fourth MCP joint injury, fractured right fifth MCP joint, left plantaris rupture, and rib contusion. The Board found that there was no current disability resulting from these in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for postoperative heart disability, residual surgical scars, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was directly incurred in service and grants service connection for post-operative lumbar residuals, to include degenerative disk disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and scars.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected ear scars and any resultant functional limitations. The Veteran is also asked to provide any outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's tuberculosis, which was incurred in service and contributed to his death from metastatic lung cancer, has been found to have substantially or materially contributed to the cause of death. The issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation for major depressive disorder and entitlement to a TDIU on the basis of substitution are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine, right knee limited motion, right knee instability, right knee scar, and right hip, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 19, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether he was unemployable due to these disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for pulmonary fibrosis status post left lung resection from October 30, 2009 to June 23, 2016.,The Veteran's residual scars are rated at 10 percent since June 23, 2016. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for these scars.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for facial scars were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the pleading requirements to file a motion for revision of decisions dated prior to July 5, 2000, based on CUE for failing to grant service connection for facial scars. Additionally, the criteria for an initial compensable and increased rating for healed scars were not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any chronic residuals of an in-service head injury, including a forehead scar, chronic headaches, and loss of vision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a rescheduled hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected postoperative residual scars related to excision of chondroma of the bilateral 12th ribs are rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left and right knee arthroplasties, tinnitus, fracture of the fourth metacarpal in the right hand, scarring of the bilateral tympanic membranes, status post bilateral tympanoplasty, left knee scar from arthroplasty, and right knee scar from arthroplasty, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on being housebound as he is able to leave his home and travel outside of it.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including panic disorder and stress urinary incontinence, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities alone, as his COPD, PTSD, lumbar disc disease, and burn scars do not meet the criteria for SMC at a higher rate.