Scars decisions — 2005

The veteran's vision disability is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted a schedular rating for her service-connected condition. The TDIU claim was denied as there is no evidence of unemployability due to her vision impairment.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bronchitis and scars of the right hand and forearm has been withdrawn.

The Board found no evidence of a facial bone fracture, deformity, right eye ptosis and scar during service or linked to service. The veteran's claim for these conditions was denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to address his claims of service connection and increased evaluation for residuals of a head injury, including facial scars. The case will be reviewed by the RO after additional VA examinations are conducted.

The veteran's service-connected residual scar from a thyroidectomy is evaluated at 10 percent, effective August 30, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the RO in Montgomery, Alabama. The appeal involves multiple conditions and evaluations related to PTSD, headaches, duodenal ulcer, scars, tinnitus, and arthritis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for spine examinations to assess his service-connected cervical and thoracic spine disabilities.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected post-operative scar of the right groin is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his postoperative scar and hiatal hernia, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on the severity of his symptoms.

The VA denied increased ratings for the veteran's postoperative scar of the left shoulder and cervical spine disability. The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability remains pending.

The veteran's total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability was granted effective April 6, 2004, when his combined service-connected disabilities reached 80 percent. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to this date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for shrapnel scars to his buttocks, finding that the evidence did not warrant an increase in rating.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of her service-connected right wrist disability remains before the Board. The case is being remanded to obtain clarification from the September 2004 VA examiner and to consider the revised rating criteria for skin disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for PTSD, bilateral depressed metatarsal arches with callosities, bilateral hearing loss, and scars from shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and back.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence does not support the requested benefits.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 21, 2002 for the assignment of a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's right calf scar.

The Board found that the veteran's right eye disability and schizo-affective disorder were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right shoulder, with retained foreign body and scar do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation beyond the current 10 percent rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further review of additional evidence and for examinations related to his service-connected disabilities.