Scars decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral inguinal hernia scars and service connection for a middle back disorder and prostate cancer. The VA examiner found no recurrence of either the left or right inguinal hernias, and there was no evidence of functional impairment due to scarring.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD and scar did not cause or contribute to his death in a motor vehicle accident. The Board concluded that the primary cause of death was head injury with multiple trauma due to cardiopulmonary arrest, which occurred during the accident.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected abdominal scar residuals of hemicolectomy and herniorrhaphy is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including instability of the right and left knees, post-operative osteochondral fracture with a torn medial meniscus and traumatic arthritis of the right knee, instability of the left knee, osteoarthritis of the left knee, left ear hearing loss, otitis media of the left ear, and scar, post-operative pilonidal cyst, are found to be sufficiently severe to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. As such, he is entitled to a TDIU.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine injury, tinea versicolor, and right and left lower extremity radiculitis, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, left forearm scar, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and left shoulder strain are not met. The claim for an increased rating for the left foot disability is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the cause of the veteran's abdominal midsagittal scar and its relation to service. The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, but there are questions about whether the claimed stressor events occurred or if the current symptoms are related to those events.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety neurosis and multiple fragment wounds, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a residual scar from neck surgery and granted it, finding that new evidence of current symptoms supports the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's skin and scalp disorder did not occur during his active duty service or a period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA). The evidence does not support a finding that the condition was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for pulmonary disability. The Board also found that the veteran currently has a pulmonary disability, which was present during active military service, and there is sufficient medical opinion supporting this claim. Therefore, the Board granted service connection for the veteran's pulmonary disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar over the lateral end of the right eyebrow, three-quarters of a centimeter in diameter, status post removal of a right eyebrow cyst.

The Board has determined that the veteran's scars from shell fragment wounds on his right leg, forehead, and forearm are consistent with combat injuries sustained during service in Vietnam. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for left axilla scar, left wrist scar, and left foot disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's post-operative right inguinal hernia repair scar is currently evaluated as noncompensable under the old rating criteria, and a compensable evaluation is denied.,The veteran's right scaphoid fracture with residual right thumb arthrosis warrants a 10 percent evaluation based on documented pain and limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The initial compensable ratings for gastric ulcer disease have also been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation of his eye conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected right fifth finger disability, finding that the evidence does not support an increase in disability beyond what is currently rated.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and an effective date prior to September 30, 2002.