Scars decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 20, 2004, for the award of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities before this date.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence indicating a causal relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his active service, leading to denial of all claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than June 4, 1999 for a 10 percent rating for his service-connected scar. The case is now remanded to further develop evidence and consider the issue of retroactively assigning a compensable disability rating prior to June 4, 1999.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his scar of the right foot and secondary service connection for a right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability and initial compensable ratings for laceration scars on the dorsal area of the left hand, third and fourth fingers, and right hand.

The Board denied service connection for a seizure disorder and left hand scars, finding that the Veteran's assertions of in-service head injury and continuity of symptoms were not credible.

The Veteran's right knee, thigh injury, heel disability, and tinea pedis have been granted service connection. The initial ratings for these conditions are all set at 10%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left foot drop and right knee arthroplasty, contributed to his death from renal failure. The decision is in favor of granting service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DMII with erectile dysfunction and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected scars on both legs and toes was denied by the Board. The VA examiner found that none of the Veteran's scars met the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not show that any of his service-connected disabilities warranted an earlier effective date than November 9, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include a fracture of the right middle finger resulting in ankylosis of multiple fingers, cervical fusion with degenerative joint disease, scars from facial injuries, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His combined disability rating is 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of a circumcision, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The Board also found no evidence of vision loss related to service or flash burns, and thus denied service connection for this issue as well. No skin disability was identified in the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as there is no evidence of a left hip scar or an additional urethra disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cholecystectomy scar is service-connected, but his claims for left foot and right shin disabilities are remanded due to lack of proper notice.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a residual scar of an incisional hernia repair with repeated MRSA infection was denied by the Board. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to issues related to service connection for cause of death and entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound scars of the posterior neck, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran is seeking a compensable evaluation for his service-connected lung disability, but the case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The VA denied an increased rating for the scars, left orbital region, left upper eyebrow, left side of the forehead and middle nose. The current evaluation is 20 percent disabling.