Scars decisions — 2011

The Veteran is granted a compensable initial evaluation of 10 percent for each of the burn scars at issue.,A 10 percent evaluation is assigned for each scar, with no higher rating available under current regulations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claims.,Specifically, the Veteran has not provided credible testimony regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's cause of death was bilateral pneumonia, due to (or as a consequence of) small bowel obstruction. The appellant argues that the Veteran's service-connected lung disability contributed to his death and that his service-connected mental health disability also contributed.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for scars and lacerations on the left hand is being remanded due to the need for clarification of whether his complaints are related to service-connected conditions or other unrelated disorders, such as osteoarthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. The VA will also obtain recent VA outpatient treatment records from February 2010 to the present and any SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for certification for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's shell fragment wound scar on the right buttock is rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and scars, do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a superficial scar from head injury was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type 2, hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are referred to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his right hand and wrist conditions, as well as service connection for a left arm/shoulder disability, have been withdrawn. The TDIU claim is also dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and scarring of the right eye, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's headaches are considered to be related to his in-service accident, while the scarring of the right eye is also linked to that same incident. However, there was no evidence linking the bilateral hearing loss to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected laceration scars of the left hand is being remanded due to incomplete examination reports and additional development needed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's prostate disability and residual scar were not granted service connection, as the evidence did not establish a relationship to his military service. The Veteran's prostate disability was found to have its onset after service, while the residual scar was stable with no functional limitation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to impairment resulting from his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of this determination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, are not shown to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a head injury, including laceration scar to the head and headaches/dizziness, has been granted. The maximum schedular rating of 50% is assigned since March 11, 2002.

The Board found that the grants of service connection were based on fraud, and thus severed all service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the termination of the Veteran's TDIU rating was not proper due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination, and thus restored the TDIU rating.