Scars decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal for whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for burn scar, right hand. As such, the Board dismisses this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, thigh laceration with superficial scar, and ankle sprain disabilities have been denied. The RO found that the current disability ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a herniated disc laminectomy and major depressive disorder, make it impossible for him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a right leg injury other than a scar, and his arthritis of the right knee was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also found no evidence to support a claim for any right ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including schizophrenia and multiple physical impairments, meet the criteria for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing (SAH). However, his entitlement to SAH precludes him from receiving financial assistance in acquiring special home adaptations (SHA).

The Veteran's increased rating claims for an appendectomy scar and a right hand disability are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected surgical scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as it does not affect an area of 144 square inches or greater and there is no limitation of motion or other functional impairment associated with the scar.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected left ulnar neuropathy and scars of the left elbow was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was currently assigned.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 17, 1997 for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent since December 17, 1997 and no higher. The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the right knee with scarring has been rated at 20 percent from July 23, 1998 to August 23, 2007 and at 30 percent since August 24, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of gunshot powder burns of both eyes are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for his service-connected left eye macular scar resulting from choroiditis have been denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that there is no current disability related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, right hand condition, and psychiatric disorder. The claim for a compensable evaluation for laceration scars of the left hand was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the specified criteria for issuance of a certificate of eligibility.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a multiple fragment wound scar of the right hip and his postoperative residuals of avascular necrosis of the left femoral head are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's service-connected multiple fragment wound scars of the right arm and left hip do not warrant higher disability ratings.

The Veteran's scar on the right index finger limits flexion to 3 centimeters of the transverse crease, meeting the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5229.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect. The Board finds that his obesity and other medical problems, rather than the service-connected disabilities, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current symptomatology of the Veteran's lumbar scar, as well as its size and function. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation remains pending.

The Veteran's scar, residual of an appendectomy, is rated at 10 percent effective June 13, 2008. The Veteran's scar, residual of a head injury, also meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating.