Scars decisions — 2002

The Board has granted service connection and an initial 10 percent rating for lichen simplex chronicus, but denied a higher rating. The veteran's left hand scar was also granted service connection, but the RO found no basis to grant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and abdominal scars. The veteran was also found not to meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected burn scar on the right hand, finding that it warranted only a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for service connection for scars, residuals of a shrapnel wound of the left thigh and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. The veteran is now entitled to a 10% rating.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected laceration and tendon injury residuals, with sensory nerve damage and scarring of the right forearm.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for decreased visual acuity of his right eye and for an evaluation of his corneal scar of the left eye with decreased visual acuity, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for pes planus, but denied the claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus as new and material evidence was not presented. The veteran's current conditions are considered to be service-connected based on direct service connection due to their onset in service or natural progression.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence showing potential links between current symptoms and in-service head injuries. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no medical evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected burn scar of the left upper arm, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the size and nature of the scar.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left leg injury, including scars, and tinnitus. The Board finds that these conditions are etiologically related to his period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cysts, right thumb scar, and prurigo nodularis. The right thumb scar is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to impairment comparable to favorable ankylosis of the thumb. Prurigo nodularis is currently rated as 30 percent disabling based on constant itching and extensive lesions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with secondary panic attacks, degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, and shrapnel wound residuals to the back, render him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment. The Board finds that these conditions meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected multiple scars with retained foreign bodies, and has also determined that he meets criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date for TDIU were denied. The initial disability evaluation for cervical disc disease with headaches was upheld.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

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