Scars decisions — 2000

The veteran's migraine headaches are due to her service-connected right eye HSV keratitis. She also received a higher rating for her conjunctivitis and mouth sores from HSV, and was granted a temporary total convalescent rating for the period of July 2, 1997 through December 31, 1997.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected chorioretinal scar, left eye, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for SFW scars of the right hand, right lower arm, right thigh, right calf, and right chest wall. The veteran's underlying residuals consist of tenderness in the right digit minimi metacarpal area.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of the right jaw with excision of the submandibular gland and retained fragment is being remanded due to incomplete medical examination reports.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings on three separate service-connected disabilities of the right foot and toes are denied as they do not warrant a rating in excess of their current evaluations.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred on March 9, 1998 is denied as he did not meet the criteria set forth in the law and regulations.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of numbness of the left thigh and burn scar of the left thigh were denied by the Board. The veteran is assigned a 30 percent evaluation for numbness of the left thigh, but no compensable evaluation was granted for the burn scar.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a compensable rating of 10% for the veteran's service-connected scar, midline of skull, residual of head injury. The earliest ascertainable date was July 22, 1996.

The veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are rated at 30 percent and 40 percent, respectively, effective October 1, 1993.,The residuals of the left orchiectomy are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found no current evidence of thyroid disease and denied service connection for a thyroid disorder. The veteran's neck scar was rated at 10% based on the current medical findings, but the Board concluded that there is no current diagnosis of thyroid disease to support an increased rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was denied. His maxillary sinusitis has been granted an increased rating to 30 percent, but his circumcision scar remains at the original 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for shell fragment wound scars of the right arm is denied as there was no increase in disability within one year prior to his January 21, 1998 claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected scars of the face and head, finding that they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for the adherent scar of the right leg, effective as of the date of the decision. Additionally, service connection was granted for a low back disorder, a right knee disorder and a right ankle disability on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right eye disability, traumatic cephalgia, and postoperative residuals of a left shoulder disability are denied. The reduction in rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for the corneal scar of the right eye with defective vision was proper based on the evidence showing improvement in visual acuity.

The Board denied increased evaluations for post-operative osteomyelitis of the right tibia and donor site scar of the left leg, finding that the service-connected conditions were not aggravated by any in-service or other exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left thigh injury and arthritis of the right shoulder, both secondary to the veteran's service-connected right elbow disability. The rating for the right elbow fracture is maintained at 20 percent.

The Board has denied both issues on appeal, finding that the veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling and his left hand scar does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's increased rating claim for his scar, shell fragment wound, right upper arm was granted with a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her TMJ and laparotomy scar, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.