Scars decisions — 2007

The Board denied all eight service connection claims, finding no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected warts and callosities on both hands, effective from November 2003.

The veteran's GERD was rated at 30 percent from October 20, 2003, through June 9, 2004. The right and left leg scars were each rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The VA granted the veteran's claim for service connection and assigned a 10 percent disability rating for his service-connected bilateral breast surgery with revision and residual scars, effective January 2, 2005.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination as his symptoms have worsened since the last examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a scar on his back, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, and increased ratings for PTSD. The claim for service connection for a scar was reopened based on new evidence, but the other claims were denied.

The veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is at least 70 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. However, he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as they do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities. However, he is not substantially confined to his dwelling or immediate premises by reason of these conditions.

The veteran's lipomas and associated scars are rated at a 10 percent evaluation effective prior to February 26, 2007. From that date, the condition warrants no higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for an examination to determine if the veteran has any current residual disability as the result of shrapnel wounds sustained during his active military service.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not warrant higher disability evaluations based on current symptomatology.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and analysis to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone are sufficient to render him unemployable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current right arm disability is not related to his active military service. The veteran's service-connected scars are superficial and do not cause limitation of motion, thus preventing a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The conditions, including traumatic neuritis of the right radial nerve and right humerus fracture residuals with damage to Muscle Group VI, are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee GSW residuals, finding that a higher rating is not warranted due to the amputation rule and the current evidence does not show impairment analogous to amputation.

The Board has found that none of the claimed conditions are related to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 50% evaluation for hidradenitis suppurativa with active lesions and multiple scars should be January 13, 2003.