Scars decisions — 2005

The veteran is presumed to be totally disabled (due to permanent disability) for VA pension purposes.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for PTSD and skin condition to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's facial scars and acne. The RO will then review the claims folder and readjudicate the issue based on de novo review.

The veteran's right axilla and right thigh scars were evaluated, with the right thigh scar receiving a 10% rating effective October 27, 2003. The right axilla scar did not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a right ankle disorder, and chorioretinal scar in the right eye. The appeals for increased ratings for migraine headaches and GERD with hiatal hernia are still pending.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied. The RO granted a 20 percent rating for post-operative residuals of a herniated disc, L5-S1, effective from the date of receipt of the claim in June 1996.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the veteran's PTSD and scars.

The Board denied the veteran's claim, finding that the April 1978 rating decision was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous in failing to establish a separate compensable disability rating for a painful scar of the abdominal region.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar of the right inguinal area and loss of the veteran's right testicle, effective July 30, 2002. The earlier effective date request is denied.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of the veteran's death to any service-connected condition, resulting in a denial of the claim.

The veteran's service-connected left elbow condition is rated at 20 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected neck disability is rated at 20 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected scars are rated at 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected lower midline abdomen and left flank conditions are not currently rated higher than 20 percent.

The veteran's service-connected scars have been rated as 10 percent for each scar, with the most recent rating decision assigning a 20 percent evaluation for the scars of the right and left axillae. The Board has determined that these ratings are not supported by the evidence.

The appellant does not meet the threshold service eligibility requirements for the receipt of nonservice-connected pension benefits due to his service not meeting the required conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied for alcoholism and stomach disability due to preclusion by law. The right hip fusion claim was denied as there was no evidence of injury in service or current disability. The scars from a munitions explosion were also denied. However, the veteran's PTSD was granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for initial consideration of new medical evidence. The case will be reviewed again and a determination on the claims for service connection and evaluation of the scar will be made.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his request for a compensable evaluation for his corneal scar of the left eye, have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's SFW non-scar residuals, left leg, are currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's donor site scars of both thighs were tender and painful since his discharge from service in December 1953, warranting an effective date back to December 30, 1953 for initial noncompensable ratings. The case is now before the Board with regard to whether a higher rating should be assigned.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including severe headaches and arthritis, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's osteochondroma of the right humerus is currently manifested by subjective complaints and objective evidence indicating damage to the radial nerve, significant loss of coordination and fine motor skill, slight range of motion loss in the fingers, decreased grip, and decreased pinprick sensation. The wart on his right fifth finger is nonpainful but limited in range of motion. Both conditions are rated at 20 percent.