Scars decisions — 2005

The veteran's scar on the right forehead is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of the July 2002 rating decision.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for jungle rot and skin cancer (including basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis), both of which are now service-connected.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left index finger disabilities.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence of a sufficient stressor to support the diagnosis. The claim for lipomatosis with scars also failed, as the sum of the scar areas did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right lower extremity neuritis and skin graft donor site scar on the right leg, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's disability rating for his left upper extremity condition is not greater than 20 percent, as his motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5201 and 5202.

The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation of whether any service-connected disabilities contributed to the veteran's death from acute and chronic respiratory insufficiency, Methicillin-resistant staph aureus pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, and chronic aspiration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for her service-connected right knee, bilateral pes planus, scar residuals of left lateral breast biopsy, scar residuals of left index finger, and scar residuals of left thumb. The evidence did not show compensable limitation of motion or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an earlier effective date and higher initial evaluation for service connection of multiple scars on the right side of the face, finding no evidence of a formal or informal claim submitted in the year prior to July 20, 2001. The veteran was granted service connection for these conditions in July 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify diagnoses and provide nexus opinions regarding any residuals from an in-service auto accident.

The case is being remanded for further development and adjudication, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a new examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's burn scars.

The VA has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected hidradenitis with residual skin grafts of both axillae and multiple scarring of the neck and buttocks.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and treatment records, requiring further evaluation of the veteran's service-connected dyshidrotic eczematous dermatitis and any resulting scars.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the service-connected scar, left side of the neck, effective August 11, 2003.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches, claimed as secondary to a shell fragment wound of the occipital scalp. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left elbow shell fragment wound residuals meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The VA denied a compensable rating for the veteran's left upper lung pleural scarring, status post left upper lobe nodule biopsy.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected left knee injury residuals, including scarring, is being remanded to the RO for additional development of medical records and an updated VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected right eye disability and chronic epididymitis were evaluated as noncompensable. The Board denied the claims for initial compensable evaluations.

The veteran's claims for increased hearing loss and service connection for apical lung scarring or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating for hearing loss, and there was insufficient medical evidence to establish service connection for the claimed conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO granted a total evaluation based on individual unemployability effective April 14, 2003.