Scars decisions — 2002

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his need for a wheelchair primarily caused by other conditions such as back pain, stroke, and obesity.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia, and also denied the propriety of a noncompensable evaluation for residuals of a gunshot wound injury to the right hand. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected fracture of the right femur, currently rated at 10 percent. The facial scars and bilateral foot calluses remain at their current ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's left thigh scar did not cause any functional impairment and denied an increased rating. The service connection claim for a left knee condition secondary to his scar was also denied as there is no evidence linking the knee disability to the scar.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not substantially or materially contribute to his cause of death, which was due to atherosclerotic disease and aneurysm.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for ulnar nerve injury due to shell fragment wounds of the right elbow area and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right shoulder, Muscle Group I.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected residuals of peri-macular retinal scars with pigmentary disturbance right at the macular region of both eyes, finding that the disability did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6011.

The Board denied the veteran's request to restore service connection for his right kidney condition, concluding that it was congenital and not aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected residual laceration scar of the left foot is rated at a 10 percent rating, which more nearly approximates pain and tenderness with callus formation.

The Board dismissed all eight issues due to the veteran's failure to appeal them.

The Board found that the veteran's claims were not abandoned and denied a request for an effective date prior to October 14, 1975.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of scarlet fever, finding no current disability related to this condition.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for scars of the left hand, finding that the veteran's symptoms are not due to service-connected scars and do not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a skin disorder, as well as his claim for right ear hearing loss. The RO granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but did not assign a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is warranted for the veteran's service-connected residuals of amoebic liver infection with abscess, encapsulation, and scarring due to chronic right upper quadrant pain.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids and an initial compensable disability rating for a scar on his left cheek. The Board found that the criteria for these ratings were not met.

The Board found that the veteran's residual shell fragment wound scar under the shin of the right leg does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.