Scars decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an inguinal hernia, ascariasis, and hyperacidity as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected asbestosis does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The veteran's initial ratings for his right foot bunionectomy, left elbow avulsion fracture, and related scars have been granted by the RO. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting choroidal scar in the right eye did not undergo permanent aggravation during his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied initial compensable evaluations for the left groin scar, residuals of orchiectomy, and hemorrhoids prior to January 18, 2006. The veteran's left groin scar was found not deep or causing limited motion, thus no compensable evaluation could be granted under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied, while the claim to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for bronchitis due to mustard gas exposure was not reopened.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and the need for a VA examination to assess the veteran's right leg scar.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar of the left lower leg, finding that it is the result of an in-service shrapnel wound.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that he did not meet the criteria as his service-connected disabilities were never rated as totally disabling for at least 10 years prior to death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right hip gunshot wound residuals with residual scar, finding that the evidence did not show moderately severe muscle damage to Muscle Group XVII.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA skin examination to evaluate the severity of the veteran's service-connected left arm scars and their impact on his range of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for head scar, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and nasal fracture due to lack of new and material evidence. The veteran did not have a current disability of the nose.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar, residual of the removal of a scrotal mass for the period from March 24, 1992 to March 24, 1993 was denied as there is no objective clinical evidence showing painful symptomatology.,The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a scar, residual of the removal of a scrotal mass, effective March 25, 1993, was also denied due to lack of objective medical evidence demonstrating pain associated with the scar.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected facial acne with residual scarring.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, but he asserts that they merit TDIU on an extraschedular basis. The case is remanded to obtain a copy of the SSA decision and records considered in the decision granting disability benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left foot and breast scars do not warrant an increased rating as they are currently evaluated.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a grant of service connection, but the initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and post-operative right elbow scar remain unresolved.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the service-connected right eye disorder, which is more nearly approximates a disability picture that more nearly approximates unilateral concentric contraction of the visual field to 15 degrees but not to 5 degrees.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death by suicide was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied. Additionally, the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1318 have not been met.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, or left eye scarring. The veteran's tinea pedis and onychomycosis of both feet were rated as noncompensable since August 2001.