Scars decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for pension benefits based on non-service-connected disabilities, finding that his claim was abandoned due to his failure to respond within one year of repeated requests for evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for pterygium, fracture and residuals of a fracture of the left radius and ulna, and scars of the left elbow were denied as there is no evidence showing impairment warranting higher evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection of a left eye disorder and denied an increased evaluation for laceration scar residuals of the right elbow. The veteran's appeal is not about service connection at all.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a scar of the right hand claimed as a shrapnel wound was dismissed because it had already been granted in a prior decision.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his superficial metal foreign body wound of the back of the neck warrants a compensable evaluation. The left shoulder shell fragment wound and metallic foreign body wound of the volar surface of the left wrist do not warrant compensable evaluations. The shrapnel wound scar of the scrotum is also rated at 70 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased evaluation for post-cyst removal scars on the back of the neck, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims. The skin disorder is currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Board denied increased ratings for osteoid osteoma of the left femur, duodenal ulcer disease, and a surgical scar of the left thigh.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar of the chin, but denied service connection for facial scars of the left eye and chin.

The veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal due to notification of withdrawal.

The veteran's laceration scar of the base of the right toe is tender and painful, warranting a 10% evaluation. The left hip disorder is found to be due to treatment at VA facilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right thigh scar, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The VA has determined that the veteran's shell fragment wound scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and an initial compensable evaluation for a left subcostal region scar, finding that there was no current evidence of these conditions. The low back disability claim is discussed in the remand section.

The veteran's service-connected burn scars to the face and right hand have been rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of any functional impairment or symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran did not raise a valid claim of clear and unmistakable error in RO decisions dated in December 1989, October 1990, or January 1991. The effective date for TDIU benefits was revised from June 17, 1992 to May 23, 1991 based on the veteran's statement indicating additional disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for scar tissue preventing vaginal delivery of children is denied as there is no evidence to support this condition and it was not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for his scar of the left leg and service connection for his claudication symptoms, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his gunshot wound to the right upper arm and donor site scar on the right thigh, are currently rated at their maximum levels. The RO has granted a total rating based on unemployability due to these service-connected conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing due to lack of loss or use of both lower extremities.

The veteran's service-connected pleural scarring and contraction of the right lung is rated at 30 percent prior to October 7, 1996. Beginning on October 7, 1996, it is rated at 60 percent. The claim for increased rating is granted.