Scars decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected shell fragment wound scars and traumatic arthritis of the left knee are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current level of impairment due to his service-connected left index finger disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar over the left eyebrow, finding that it is due to an injury sustained during active service. The Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriatic arthritis and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and scar, shrapnel wound of the right hip are being remanded. Additionally, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, even though they do not result in a combined 100 percent schedular evaluation.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a dermatological condition of the upper extremities, including scars with associated inflammation (rash). The Board found that this condition was related to in-service trauma and inflammation. Service connection for a dermatological condition of the lower extremities remains pending.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for chronic constipation and an initial noncompensable rating for the abdominal surgery scar, effective December 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left eye cornea scar is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a comprehensive ophthalmological examination and clarification of all identified disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability for VA compensation purposes related to her hearing loss, corneal scarring from LASIK surgery, osteopenia, left breast fibroadenoma, or heart murmur. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities combine to make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has awarded an effective date of January 27, 1994 for a 30 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability. The evidence shows that the condition worsened to warrant this increased rating as of that date.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no evidence of their onset or association with service.

The Veteran's death was due to atherosclerotic disease, and the appellant is not eligible for additional DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) because her marriage to the Veteran did not meet the legal requirements.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for a burn scar of the left thigh and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for COPD were both denied.

The Veteran's service-connected pleurisy and scarring with obliteration of the costophrenic angle have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating, as their manifestations do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings in any of her service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right epididymitis, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and scars of the nose and cheek due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The decision found no evidence associating these conditions with active service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim for service connection for painful scar and pes cavus of the right foot arch, finding that no new and material evidence was presented.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a comprehensive medical opinion addressing his employability due to service-connected disabilities and whether he is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.