Scars decisions — 2005

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, in and of themselves, do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is less than total.

The veteran's service connection for multiple basal cell carcinomas is granted, and the issues of service connection for a scar on the left side of the neck (squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) are also addressed.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the February 1958 rating decision that reduced a disability rating for shell fragment wound scars on the left knee from 10% to noncompensable.

The Board denied service connection for a nervous disorder and tooth number 8, but granted an increased rating of 10% for the disfiguring scar of the lip. The other residuals of the facial gunshot wound were rated as 10%.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective date determinations, finding that his service-connected conditions did not warrant higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected disabilities have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for scars of the scalp and face, and entitlement to a 10 percent disability rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right foot disability, finding that the current 10 percent rating is appropriate for both the fracture and scar.

The veteran was placed in a private nursing home, the Capitol Care Center, from August 1997 until his death in December 2000. The VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Boise, Idaho provided payment for non-VA nursing home care until December 31, 1997. The veteran's eligibility for basic eligibility for non-VA nursing home care from 1997 to 2000 is granted.

The veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment is denied as his visual impairment does not meet the required criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left shoulder disability as secondary to chest scars, and increased ratings for chest scars and tinea versicolor.

The Board has granted a compensable rating of 10% for the veteran's service-connected scar, postoperative residual of left inguinal hernia repair. The condition is superficial and does not involve disfigurement or cause limited motion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private hospital records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and post-traumatic encephalopathy.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting sinus disorder was aggravated during active service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The keloid scars of the chest were also found to be aggravated by exposure to tear gas during basic training.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, do not render him unemployable considering his educational and occupational background. The Board concludes that the preponderance of the evidence does not demonstrate total individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The veteran's scarring from hernia surgery is considered to be secondary to his service-connected appendectomy scar, and he was granted service connection for this. However, the evaluation for his appendectomy scar remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's left eye chorioretinal scar, finding no current impairment of vision or function resulting from the service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected scars and dermatological disorders do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and further development is needed.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that none of them were incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service records did not show any evidence of shrapnel wounds, peptic ulcer disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, left shoulder fractures, myocardial infarction, bronchitis, or psychoneurosis with depressive reaction during the veteran's military service.