Scars decisions — 2006

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the surviving spouse is not entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 or 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a nexus opinion from VA physicians who previously examined the veteran. The issue of service connection for a blocked nasal lacrimal duct is being remanded.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and readjudicating his claims of service connection for left leg burn scars and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for burn scars, right upper extremity, finding that the medical evidence did not show that the size of the veteran's burn scars exceeded one-half square foot or produced limitation of motion. The claim for service connection for scars on back of head and posterior neck is being remanded.

The veteran's service-connected scar on the dorsum of the right middle finger is rated at 10 percent, and his heterotopic bone formation overlying the third MCP joint remains unassigned a compensable rating. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records since November 2003 for the right middle finger dorsum scar.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic strain of the right hip, but denied entitlement to increased evaluation for facial acne scars and service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted a separate evaluation for nerve damage secondary to the right leg laceration. The case is now REMANDED to determine the severity of the nerve damage.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left eye pterygium does not warrant a compensable evaluation as it only manifests dry eye with no evidence of loss of vision.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected chorioretinal scar with glaucoma and decreased vision is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining medical records from VA facilities.

The veteran's face scar resulting from a parachute jump does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation, and there is no evidence of additional disability due to VA treatment.

The veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae and acne keloidalis nuchae with scarring alopecia were denied. The RO found that the conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's service-connected shrapnel wounds of the face and forehead are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted under either the old or new criteria.

The veteran's bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5276. The scar of the forehead has been evaluated as noncompensable.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected shrapnel wound scars have been denied as the evidence does not show that any scar is deep or causes limitation of motion, and none meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for initial and increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The RO found that the residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right knee do not warrant a compensable rating, and the scars on the scalp with retained metal fragments are rated as non-service connected.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for consideration of both the old and new criteria, and a VA examination to determine the current level of his service-connected skin disabilities.

The VA has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's residuals of right fibula fracture, which is currently at its maximum allowable rating. The issue remains on appeal as it does not meet criteria for an increased (compensable) evaluation for the residuals of his right testicular cyst with scar, atrophy, and impotence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete procedural steps and the need for additional VCAA notifications.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left eye injury and has determined that corneal scarring and glaucoma in the left eye are due to service injuries, granting service connection.