Scars decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's fungus of the fingernails and toenails, residuals of jungle fever, and scar as a residual of a shell fragment wound of the right upper extremity are not related to his military service. Therefore, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for the residuals of a coccyx area laceration, including cocodynia and a tender scar, is granted. The VA physician diagnosed the veteran to have cocodynia and a tender scar resulting from the laceration he sustained in service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board finds that the veteran did not have scarlet fever during service and does not have a current cardiovascular disability attributable to such condition. The claim is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and residuals of scarlet fever. Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a scar on the lower lip and right shoulder strain, as well as his requests for initial ratings in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and 10 percent for dermatitis. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran seeks increased evaluations for his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

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

The Board granted an increased rating of 10% for the donor site scar of the left hip effective July 19, 1999 and a 10% rating for the scar of the left fifth metatarsal.

The Board found that the veteran's fatal myocardial infarction was not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death. The appellant also failed to meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected scar, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation.

The Board has found that the veteran's appendectomy scar is service-connected, and his lung condition is not attributable to service.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disorder and multiple scars of the face are currently rated at 10 percent, but do not warrant higher ratings based on current evidence.

The VA has denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected postoperative scar from a pilonidal cystectomy, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for scar, left forehead and service connection for residuals of a head injury (other than a forehead scar) and DDD of the cervical spine and lumbosacral disc bulge were denied. The veteran's claim for GERD was not addressed as it may be related to his service-connected headaches. Service connection claims for hypertension and nerves were also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death, entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code, and entitlement to death pension benefits. The appellant was informed that she had not provided sufficient information regarding her appeal.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right wrist wound and disfiguring scars, finding that there was no evidence of exceptional disability or new evidence warranting reopening.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the right lower leg, muscle group XI, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The veteran's service-connected gunshot wound scars of the right lower leg also do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected coccydynia and residual scar, as well as a claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 22, 1999 for a 10 percent evaluation for laceration scars of the face and mouth was denied. The claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of a fractured mandible was also denied.