Scars decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and found that he did not meet the requirements for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's scar from a gunshot wound of the abdomen was incurred during his period of active service and granted service connection for this condition. The right shoulder disability is not considered to be related to military service.

The veteran's appeal is for an increased rating for postoperative and post-radiotherapy residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils with burn scar and xerostomia. The VA has awarded a 20 percent rating, effective from the initial date of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a final decision.

The Board found no evidence of PTSD and denied service connection for the veteran's claimed PTSD. The gunshot wound scar was rated at 10% from October 13, 1993 to August 17, 1999, but is not compensable after that date.

The Board has determined that further examination is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left sciatic nerve injury and shell fragment wounds of the left buttock, left forearm, and right foot. The RO should ensure all requested development is completed.

The VA has determined that the current 10 percent rating for residual scarring in the perianal and groin areas is appropriate based on intermittent itching and tenderness, with no evidence of exudation or constant itching.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including knee disabilities, PTSD, urinary tract disorders, sarcoidosis, and scars. The reasons are not provided in this text.

The Board has determined that the veteran is statutorily barred from appealing the November 1995 and March 1996 rating decisions due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's testimony of in-service surgical procedures and current symptomatology provides sufficient evidence to grant service connection for an incisional scar on his abdomen. The cervical spine disability is also granted, with a determination made based on credible testimony and medical evidence.

The veteran's service-connected residual scar from a head injury is manifested by a symptomatic scar.,The veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a right knee injury are manifested by limitation of motion and periarticular pathology productive of painful motion. The condition does not show lateral instability or subluxation.,The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent based on the average pure tone threshold of 33 decibels on the right and 31 decibels on the left, with no significant impairment in discrimination ability.,The veteran's service-connected residuals of a right wrist injury are currently rated at 10 percent due to limitation of motion.,The veteran's service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus, L4-L5, is currently rated at 20 percent based on severe functional impairment.

The veteran's effective date for dependency compensation benefits is set from September 1, 1990. The veteran was granted an additional award of service-connected disabilities and his dependents were added to the award.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected deviated nasal septum and maxillary sinusitis, finding that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted. The claim for a compensable rating for his scar, left cheek, was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for alcoholism and initial ratings for his hepatitis, fractures of the toes, and a tattoo removal. The veteran's hepatitis is considered healed and nonsymptomatic, warranting a noncompensable rating. His fractures are rated as 10 percent disabling overall.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 17, 1992 for a 10% evaluation for his service-connected scar located below the left eye. The RO assigned this effective date based on the veteran's testimony at his hearing before a member of the Board in May 2001.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, shell fragment wound scars of the right foot, and shell fragment wound scars of the left foot were denied by the Board.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound scar of the left elbow did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hearing loss and left deltoid area scar, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating based on current clinical manifestations.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, considering the impairment from the disorders and his educational and occupational background.