Scars decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a scar on the left side of the face, residuals of a coma, broken bones, and residuals of a left leg injury are all denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of concussion and laceration to the head, headaches, status-post L4-L5 hemilaminectomy and diskectomy with radicular symptoms, degenerative disc disease, and lumbar scoliosis, and upper back pain have been granted. The Veteran has current scar residuals from a face and head injury in service, but no other service-connected disabilities are established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee arthritis and nose disability are not service-connected due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA and SSA records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected residuals of cold injury of the scalp with scar is being remanded due to inadequate examination and further development is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected left leg disabilities, including his below-the-knee amputation and muscle injury of the anterior thigh, contributed to his left above-the-knee amputation. This amputation was a proximate cause of his death from congestive heart failure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and burn scars to the arms, face, and forearms were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his scars and service connection for residuals of dental trauma were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for service-connected scars of the left buttock and right flank area with retained metallic fragments in the right pelvic area is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination. The case will be re-adjudicated after further development.

The Veteran's skin rash with disfigurement and scarring of head, face, neck, back and chest area is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from acute myocardial infarction. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's service records show diagnoses of sinusitis, bronchitis, and asthma. The Board has re-characterized the issues as a sinus/rhinitis disorder and respiratory disorders (including bronchitis and asthma). Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the debt was validly created due to the Veteran's incarceration for a felony. The overpayment of VA compensation benefits is denied as there is no indication of fraud, misrepresentation, or bad faith on the part of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The maximum schedular evaluation for the status post salpingoophorectomy was granted, but no additional evaluations were warranted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for scars and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a current disability related to an in-service burn. The Veteran's symptoms have been linked to his service-connected back injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he required regular aid and assistance, nor was he considered permanently confined to his home.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her inability to use both lower extremities, blindness in both eyes, or loss of use of both upper extremities.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically various fracture disabilities sustained during an in-service motor vehicle accident, did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.