Scars decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral lattice retinal degeneration and retinal scars with right eye atrophic hole does not warrant a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left groin scar, finding that a 10 percent evaluation was appropriate based on tenderness and pain.

The Board has granted an evaluation of 20 percent for calluses of the right foot, postoperative. A separate evaluation is also granted for a tender scar at the site of surgery on the right 5th metatarsal.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral pneumothorax spontaneous with left thoracotomy, effective from November 3, 1997. The claim for an increased rating for the residual scar of the left thoracotomy was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a foot disorder, lung disorder (asthma), and chin disorder have been granted. The lung disorder is specifically noted as bronchial asthma.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluation of his left leg scar and service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was no evidence to support an increase in disability rating or service connection.

The Board found that the service-connected laceration scar of the fifth digit of the left hand is productive of asymptomatic scarring without evidence of muscle injury or functional impairment, and granted a 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings and earlier effective date was granted. The scar on the left hand was rated at 10% from October 30, 1995 onwards.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, finding that none of the conditions met the criteria for a higher rating.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected right inguinal hernia with ilioinguinal nerve neuralgia and scar does not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for the veteran's umbilical hernia, effective from October 31, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected wound scars of the left forearm and hand, finding no evidence of any current residual disability or functional loss.

The Board finds that the evidence supports the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ear fungal infection manifested by residual scarring of the tympanic membrane. Service connection is granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 10 percent for multiple scars, including facial scars, residuals of excision of basal cell carcinomas and actinic keratoses. The current evaluation is appropriate given the nature and extent of his scars.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulitis as secondary to his service-connected appendectomy scar, but granted an increased evaluation of 10% for his appendectomy scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, finding that the residuals of shell fragment wounds did not warrant a rating in excess of the current evaluations.

The veteran's service-connected right hip disability, frontal sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and left eyebrow scar with paresthesias are currently rated at the minimum levels allowed by law. The Board finds that these evaluations do not adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board found that the reduction in the veteran's combined service-connected evaluation from 70% to 50%, based on a finding of clear and unmistakable error in a February 1990 rating decision, was proper.