Scars decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities were not caused by VA treatment and thus denied his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and verifying periods of active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection and increased rating remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee replacement and degenerative joint disease, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for prostate disorder, tinnitus, scar (claimed as residual of back injury), back disability, kidney condition, and peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities. The VA audiologist concluded that the appellant's post-service tinnitus was not related to his military service.

The Board denied the appeal as the reduction of compensation benefits to 10 percent, effective April 24, 2006, due to incarceration for a felony conviction was proper.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The RO denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for chest scars and residuals of multiple rib fractures, but did not assign specific ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment. The claims are also being held in abeyance regarding a TDIU claim.

The VA has granted an increased rating to the Veteran's service-connected fragment wound scar of the left cheek, currently rated at 10 percent disabling, and now rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's chest pain is not a separate disability from her service-connected scar, status post tube thoracostomy and left pleuracotomy with pleural abrasion. The VA examiner opined that the symptoms are more likely related to prior procedures.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for prostatitis, burn scars of the left knee, arthritis of the left knee, and diabetes mellitus. The February 2007 rating decision found no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected acne scarring with pitting is currently rated at 30 percent, and no higher. The condition covers a significant area of the face and neck, meeting criteria for two or three characteristics of disfigurement.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD and lip scar claims has been granted. The heart disorder, amblyopia, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy claims are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a scar of the scalp, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's residuals of a burn scar on the right thigh are hyperpigmented, but do not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond the initial 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee arthroplasty and associated scar, is service-connected as it is at least as likely as not that the injury in service led to degenerative arthritis requiring a total knee replacement.