Scars decisions — 2008

The veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and the Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from February 23, 2004 to March 24, 2005. Other claims were denied or remained at their current ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and frostbite residuals in the hands and feet, did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right hand injury, back disorder, and foot and ankle disorder are being remanded for further development.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for a Board hearing as requested by the veteran.

The veteran's residuals of varicocele surgeries and recurrence of varicocele/hydrocele are rated as 30 percent, with an additional 10 percent granted for residual scarring.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and service connection were denied.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a dermatological condition, to include recurrent boils, cysts, and residual scarring, was reopened based on new evidence showing the presence of residual scarring. The Board determined that there is a current disability related to an in-service exposure.

The veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus as due to exposure to herbicides, and an earlier effective date of October 18, 1983, for the grant of service connection for sickle cell disease.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The veteran requires the regular assistance of another to perform activities of daily living due to his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran was granted a 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected appendectomy scar from August 28, 2002, but no higher evaluation is warranted at any time under any potentially applicable criteria.

The veteran's surgical scar on the right middle finger does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's left forearm disability is manifested by no more than a moderate muscle impairment, and he has been granted a separate evaluation of 10 percent for functional loss due to pain. A higher rating was not warranted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right hand injury and surgery, including scarring, was denied by the RO in June 2004. The appeal is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected shell fragment wound (SFW) of the left hip and buttock was granted, with a 40 percent rating assigned effective July 24, 2007.

The veteran does not have an employment handicap, and therefore is not entitled to vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31.

The appeal is remanded to schedule a video-conference hearing for the veteran.

The veteran's claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for scars secondary to right and left breast reduction surgery were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.