Scars decisions — 2009

The Board remands the matters on appeal to the RO for further development and readjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's multiple claimed disabilities were not the proximate result of active duty and were, in fact, due to his own misconduct.

The Veteran's service-connected median nerve neuralgia of the left hand is rated at 20 percent, which approximates moderate incomplete paralysis. The other claims remain under review.

The Board denied the petition to reopen a claim for service connection for hearing loss and a left ear condition, as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, fibromyalgia, IBS, cholecystectomy, migraines, right knee injury, tinnitus, and other conditions, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to January 10, 2005.

The Board denied service connection for dental trauma, prostate cancer, and facial scars as there is no evidence of inservice exposure to ionizing radiation, and the conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, and also denied initial compensable evaluations for right calf scar and left knee scar.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his suicide was due to mental unsoundness associated with depression resulting from his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied increased (compensable) ratings for the service-connected left elbow scar, right wrist scars, and right leg scar.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disability and a more thorough evaluation of scars on the left arm.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including herniated nucleus pulposus with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 status post laminectomy, post-traumatic stress disorder, residuals of gunshot wound of the anterior neck with paralysis of the left vocal cord, tracheotomy scars, and impaired respiration, sciatica of right lower extremity, and sciatica of left lower extremity, have caused him to lose use of both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of a cane, braces or wheelchair.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome with chronic strain, but denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected acne with scarring. The claims for service connection for sleep disorder and spinal degenerative joint disease are being remanded.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the Veteran's scars and muscle herniation, as well as an initial compensable evaluation for a scar of the right lower lateral leg.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for facial scarring, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, pancreatitis, gout, visual impairment of the left eye, and hearing loss of the left ear as there was no competent medical evidence showing that these conditions were related to his service.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for residuals of a diskectomy at L5-S1, to include a scar, based on orthopedic manifestations and incapacitating episodes.

The veteran's scars of the left hand, right leg, anterior throat, and scrotum do not cause limitation of motion of the affected areas.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for defective vision of the left eye with corneal scarring, finding that a rating in excess of 10 percent was not warranted.