Scars decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for facial scarring, lung disability, and residuals of a fracture of the 4th metatarsal of the right hand. The claim for bilateral foot calluses was also denied. The veteran's right knee condition is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for status post perforated eardrums with scarring, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a scar from a shell fragment wound received during service. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or show that these conditions were incurred in service.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 60 percent since June 3, 2004. The left foot condition is currently rated at 30 percent since June 3, 2004.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected endometriosis and residual scar, status post cesarean section due to her failure to respond to VA notices.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to changes in rating criteria for spine and scar disabilities, requiring readjudication under both old and new criteria.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected residual scar of the right thigh does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current evidence of a sleep disorder, and the right knee disability was rated at 10 percent since January 1, 2002. The left varicocele and skin condition (tinea barbae of the scalp with scarring alopecia) have also been rated at 10 percent since January 1, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected fibroadenoma and fibrocystic breast disease with scars did not warrant a compensable rating, as there was no significant alteration of breast size or form. The gastritis was well-controlled by medication without any present symptoms.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for service connection for scar tissue of the penis as secondary to his service-connected Reiter's syndrome. The claims for 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 benefits for headaches, neck pain, loss of balance, and bilateral knee pain were denied because they did not arise from VA care or treatment.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for both issues, including the service connection claim and the increased rating claim for electrical burn scars. The Board is dismissing these claims.

The Board denied an increased rating for a left elbow scar, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new VA Rating Schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disability, but denied the remaining claims as there is no current chronic acquired psychiatric disability or a chronic gynecological disability related to an endometrial polyp.

The Board denied ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings for right knee small meniscus tear, arthritis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and chin scars.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her in need of aid and attendance or housebound, thus the claim for special monthly compensation by reason of being in need of aid and attendance or on account of being housebound is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, residuals of right thumb injury including scar, and depression, were not incurred or aggravated during military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left calf scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under either the old or new VA rating criteria, and thus denied his claim for an increased initial evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a separate, compensable evaluation for his shrapnel wound scar, right biceps is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 16, 2001 for increased evaluations and service connection. The appeals were not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for loss of visual acuity, secondary to residuals of injury to left eye with scar of cornea and for special monthly compensation based on housebound status.