Scars decisions — 2007

The veteran's right and left foot ulcers are rated at 10 percent each, while his shell fragment wound scar on the forehead is also rated at 10 percent. The effective date for these ratings is not specified.

The veteran was granted TDIU effective August 6, 2003. The RO later determined that the earliest date of an ascertainable increase in disability was March 27, 2003, and adjusted the effective date accordingly.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Lyme disease, and obstructive airway disease/shortness of breath due to an undiagnosed illness. The left elbow scar was not found to be compensable under either old or new VA rating criteria. Hearing loss disability was also not established as a current condition.

The veteran's service-connected lymphoma excision scar on the mid anterior right leg is small and barely visible, not causing any functional impairment.,The veteran's service-connected left foot plantar wart does not cause significant discomfort or objective evidence of plantar warts.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The carpal tunnel syndrome and scar, residual of gunshot wound, right hand and wrist, are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The veteran's residuals of a right eye injury, including a corneal scar and lattice degeneration, warrant a 20 percent rating prior to February 22, 2005. A higher rating is not warranted at any point during the period on appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral leg disability, right shoulder disability, and left knee scar due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of residuals of a gunshot wound, scars of the scalp and service connection for a headache disorder were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support an increase in disability rating or service connection.

The Board has determined that the service-connected PTSD did not substantially or materially contribute to the cause of the veteran's death. The VA and private medical records do not show a causal link between the veteran's PTSD and his cardiovascular disease, which was found to be caused by other risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his eye disability and service connection for photophobia. The current rating of 20 percent is appropriate based on the visual acuity impairment, but not higher.

The veteran's service-connected well-healed lower mid-line abdominal scars with fistula, residual of colostomy, were not rated compensably prior to May 16, 1997 and are currently rated as 10 percent disabling from that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for shrapnel scars of the left hand and chest, finding no evidence of functional impairment. The issue of a compensable evaluation for residuals of a fractured mandible was withdrawn by the veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bronchitis and awarded a compensable initial rating of 10 percent for the veteran's scars of the left forearm. The veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under current criteria. The residuals of his laceration to the left wrist are also rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for malaria and postoperative scarring on the right side of the neck, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disorder related to the veteran's claimed scarlet fever, and thus denied service connection for residuals of scarlet fever. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted in September 2005.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, considering the impairment from the disorders and his educational and occupational background.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the denial of his claims.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him helpless or so nearly helpless as to require regular aid and attendance. The Board denied the claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board found that the veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound, as he is able to leave his home at any time and does not require assistance with daily activities.

The veteran is not entitled to a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities prior to July 19, 2002.