Scars decisions — 2003

The veteran's Tietze's Syndrome (Costochondritis) is currently rated as noncompensably disabling. The Board has determined that the current evidence supports a 10% rating for this condition, effective from December 1996.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted higher initial evaluations of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected right rotator cuff tear with impingement and left fibula fracture, effective from August 18, 2000. The back scar remains rated as noncompensably disabling.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's scar, bone graft donor site, right iliac crest, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection are granted for a shrapnel wound scar of the right arm, but denied for other conditions.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected respiratory disability, finding that his FEV-1 and DLCO (SB) were not below the required percentages to warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right hand condition and service connection for malaria, arthritis, pneumonia, PTSD, and residuals of a broken right leg.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his shell fragment wound scar of the left foot was denied. The Regional Office did not consider whether there was clear and unmistakable error in denying a compensable evaluation for a left foot scar in a May 31, 1974 rating determination as this appeal is not about service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for the right fifth metacarpal fracture and the occipital scalp laceration scar, as well as service connection for exotropia of the right eye, arthritis of the right hand, and a cervical spine disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar in the right groin, but denied service connection for weakness in the right leg.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of June 1, 1999, for DIC benefits granted in her reopened claim. The appeal was based on a liberalizing law that became effective in 1993 and assigned an effective date more than one year after its enactment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under either the old or revised VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's right foot scar, which is the maximum available under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for pseudofoliculitis barbae and entitlement to a compensable evaluation for his left leg scar. The veteran did not have current pseudofoliculitis barbae, and there was no objective evidence of disability in his left leg scar.

The veteran withdrew her appeal for a higher rating for postoperative excision of calcaneal exostosis of the right foot with residual scar.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and renal stones, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected residuals of shrapnel wound of the right hand to include scar of the dorsum and deformity of the third metacarpal, finding that the disability did not more closely approximate the criteria associated with a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5216 through 5227.

The Board has determined that the veteran's venous stasis of the right leg does not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent, and his scarring of the right leg requires further examination to determine appropriate ratings based on new criteria.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not sufficient to reopen the claims for service connection for asthma and corneal scar of the right eye.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance, granting special monthly compensation based on this need.