Scars decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current cellulitis, below left eye or nerve damage of the feet and left hand related to service. The veteran's claims for scarring of the feet are also denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The VA denied an increased rating for residuals of a right fibula fracture with soft tissue scarring and episodes of fasciitis since May 26, 1999. The veteran's disability has been consistently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's service connection claim for residuals of pleurisy is granted, as the VA examiner found that his current atypical chest pains were likely related to a previous in-service incident of pleurisy and X-ray evidence indicated scarring in the left lower lung.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in any of the conditions listed.

The RO denied the appellant's claims for service connection due to lack of qualifying service.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for the service-connected keloid scars of the chest and right thigh, finding that these conditions are markedly disfiguring.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for spondylolisthesis, L5-S1 and a bone graft site scar over the left iliac crest. The conditions are currently rated as 60 percent disabling for the spine condition.

The VA has determined that the veteran's laceration scar of the left wrist does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under current VA regulations.

The veteran's chronic pancreatitis has been rated as 30 percent disabling since the grant of service connection in February 29, 2000. The current rating is denied.,Since August 30, 2002, the veteran's abdominal scars have not met the criteria for a compensable rating (10 percent) under the revised criteria.

The VA has determined that the veteran's scars at the base of her right metatarsal do not warrant a higher evaluation as they are painful but do not result in limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's multiple scars of the face, which have been ameliorated with plastic surgery and are barely visible upon close inspection, do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The veteran is entitled to separate ratings for his visual and painful characteristics of scarring.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected scar of the left shoulder does not warrant a compensable initial rating under VA's rating criteria, as there are no significant objective manifestations of disability attributable to this condition.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for increased evaluation of facial scars, service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for a headache disability. The facial scars are rated at 10 percent disabling. Tinnitus is considered incurred in service. A headache disability was not shown to be related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's scar on the right chest, residuals of stab wounds does not warrant a compensable evaluation based on the current rating criteria. The veteran was denied a higher disability rating for this condition.

The veteran's appendectomy scar is granted service connection. Service connection for low back injury and left ankle and foot injury are denied.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the relationship between the veteran's basal cell carcinoma and his keloid scar, including whether it is as likely as not that the keloid caused the cancer.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to his PTSD, which does not require 24-hour supervision.

The veteran's claim for TDIU was received on December 17, 1998. The RO held that he met the criteria for a combined disability rating of 70% as of October 1, 1992, which is when his last date of employment was May 31, 1996. Therefore, an effective date earlier than December 17, 1998, cannot be granted.

The veteran's schizophrenia is rated at 100% disabling, and he has been granted a compensable rating for his left corneal scar. The effective date of these ratings is not specified.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a surgical scar of the right ankle, as the evidence did not show marked limitation of motion or other factors warranting a higher rating.