Scars decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a fully informed decision on the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant service records and conducting medical examinations.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for deafness, left ear and scars of bilateral shins.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a head injury. The underlying issue of whether the in-service scalp laceration resulted in current residuals, including a scar, will be addressed through a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected diffuse, anterior stromal scarring in the right eye is productive of active pathology but does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection or higher ratings for most conditions, with some exceptions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to reschedule a hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for skin rash, calcified granuloma of both lungs, and scars in the groin area remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to allow for a VA examination and the issuance of a statement of the case (SOC) on his skin disability claims.

The Veteran's service-connected scars have been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The RO has determined that none of the conditions meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not sufficient by themselves to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations have been denied as the current ratings are considered adequate to compensate for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective July 6, 2000 based on his service-connected hidradenitis suppurative with acne vulgaris with scars and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's original claim for service connection was received on September 16, 2002, before his discharge from service. Therefore, an effective date of October 1, 2002, is granted for the grant of service connection for multiple disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand disability has been manifested by complaints of loss of feeling and use, with two scars less than .3 x .3 centimeters each. The VA examination found no skin ulceration or breakdown over the scars, slight limitation in flexion of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, and tenderness on palpation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for his service-connected left knee scar, finding that there was no evidence of pain or other disabling symptoms associated with the condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for a dermatologic condition of the upper extremities, independent of scars with associated inflammation (rash), and service connection for a dermatologic condition of the lower extremities, to include rashes and scars.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for urethral scarring and urinary frequency, as well as his claim for an increased rating for residuals of bilateral renal stones and renal colic, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses or evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected abdominal injury is not considered to have resulted in additional scarring of the wrists and arms. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his muscle group XIX injury was also denied.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and an examination.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability compensation to 10 percent due to his incarceration for a felony conviction was proper.