Scars decisions — 2000

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent since November 7, 1996. The appeal for a higher rating or TDIU remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic renal failure. The claim for PTSD was also denied as it did not result in occupational and social impairment warranting a higher evaluation. The shell fragment wound scars were evaluated at their current levels of 10 percent.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the service-connected residual gunshot wound scars of the left cheek and lower lip, but denied a higher rating for the scar on the middle lower lip. The veteran is now rated at 10% for each of these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a gunshot wound to the right upper extremity with loss of humeral head and nerve damage, pleural cavity injury with scar on the left chest, and gunshot wound of the left muscle group XV, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for defective vision of the left eye, a scar as a residual of a right hand laceration, and arthritis of both hands. Service connection was denied for hypercholesteremia, fractures of the fifth fingers on both hands, and arthritis of both feet.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the appellant's service-connected scars and incomplete section of the right peroneal nerve, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the current record is inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his right ankle, donor site scar, and left knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical examinations and opinions to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected scar of the left temporoparietal region, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation higher than 10 percent under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is denied as his need to use diapers does not meet the legal requirements for such a benefit.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including those of the right forearm and left mandible/cheek, are currently rated at 20 percent each. The combined rating is 70 percent, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. However, his current disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of multiple joints was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability and denied his claims for increased ratings.

The Board has granted increased ratings for PTSD, Right Hip Arthritis, and Right Knee Scar under the current rating criteria. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, his Right Hip Arthritis at 10 percent, and his Right Knee Scar at a compensable level.

The veteran's acne vulgaris and left shoulder scar are both rated, but the left shoulder scar is granted a separate rating. The acne vulgaris remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot and denied a compensable rating for the donor site scar on the left thigh.

The veteran's cervical spondylosis is granted service connection, and his multiple scars of the face are not entitled to an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's laparotomy scar does not warrant a higher rating, and her temporomandibular joint syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent. The appeal is mixed as it includes both granted and denied issues.

The Board has determined that the appellant's SFW scar above the left ankle was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The back injury claim remains unresolved.