Scars decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure. The issue of residuals of a head injury with a scar remains pending as it is not addressed by the decision.

The Board found that the cause of death was not caused by or contributed to by any service-connected condition, including presumptively related conditions due to radiation exposure. The veteran's prostate cancer and hypertension were not service-connected, nor could they be presumed as such. DIC benefits under section 1318 were also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on a need for aid and attendance or being housebound, as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for most of his daily needs without regular aid and attendance from others or render him unable to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected schizophrenia, finding that he was not individually unemployable by reason of this disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not severe enough to qualify for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his scar of the macula in the right eye, diplopia, and exophthalmos, finding that the evidence did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, but granted a 10% evaluation for the veteran's second degree burn scars on his right arm and right flank.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his gastrointestinal disability (Duodenal Ulcer, Gastric Ulcers and Hiatal Hernia) was denied. His disfiguring scar of the right temporal region postoperative remains at a 10 percent rating.

The veteran is entitled to vocational rehabilitation training due to her service-connected disabilities and employment handicap.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist scar is well grounded. The VA duty to assist the veteran includes obtaining all relevant records, including reports of his recent treatment at the VA medical facility in Albany, New York.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frozen feet (frostbite) and granted it, finding that new evidence confirms current disability and a nexus to service.

The veteran's appeal for reimbursement of private medical expenses is denied as the criteria for reimbursement are not met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection and evaluation remain unresolved.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as failure to establish a link between his current conditions and military service or radiation exposure.

The VA has granted a 10 percent evaluation for postoperative residuals of left patella surgery with a tender subcutaneous nodule underlying the surgical scar, and denied an evaluation for olecranon spur of the left elbow.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents. The veteran's facial scars were rated as noncompensable, and his loss of teeth from the lower mandible was also rated as noncompensable. His claims for cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, and skin rash were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for scars from surgical removal of sebaceous cysts and a request for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has granted a separate compensable evaluation of 10 percent for scars of the head and neck, finding that they are tender and painful.