Scars decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of both old and new VA rating criteria for scars. The issues on appeal are related to his squamous cell carcinoma residual scars.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to secure and maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the existence and etiology of his claimed inner left forearm scar. Additionally, an SOC will be issued regarding his claim of service connection for hives and allergies.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an eye examination to assess the severity of his service-connected corneal scarring of the right eye. The issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for corneal scarring of the right eye from foreign body, removed, with photophobia and entitlement to a compensable disability rating for sensorineural hearing loss of the right ear are being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to his service-connected SFW residuals of the left wrist, forearm, elbow, and ankle. The appeal is dismissed due to lack of evidence showing CUE in the February 1970 rating decision.

The Veteran's death was caused by gastric cancer, and the appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of his death. She also seeks DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 due to alleged fault on the part of VA medical providers in not discovering his gastric cancer earlier.

The Veteran's left hand dorsum scars are rated at 10 percent disabling based on limitation of motion, and no higher rating is warranted as the evidence does not support an increase in disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD and chemical scarring of the lungs. The case is being remanded to verify exposure to potentially hazardous agents during service and to obtain a VA medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of a partial thyroidectomy with scar have been rated at 10 percent since October 23, 2008.

The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not substantially or materially contribute to the Veteran's death, which was caused by a spinal cord stroke.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder strain and hernia scars were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for a low back disability is pending, as are those for right hip and right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's disability rating for his post-surgical scar to the right elbow was reduced from 10% to 0%, effective August 19, 2008. The reduction was upheld as supported by evidence of record and in compliance with due process laws.

The Veteran's service-connected residual stab wound scar of the left knee does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board is remanding the cause-of-death claim due to the need for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion. The DIC benefits claim remains inextricably intertwined with the cause-of-death claim and must be addressed concurrently.

The RO denied an increased rating for right shoulder disability, which had been rated at 20 percent since July 1999. The Veteran's claim was not timely filed within one year of the denial and thus, no effective date earlier than October 27, 2009 is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Veteran's videoconference hearing at his local RO due to his request. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. � 4.30.

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for injuries sustained during VA treatment, including fractured ribs and wound dehiscence of the sacral flap site. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if these injuries were a result of carelessness or negligence on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his cervical spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome or ankylosis, and therefore, no higher ratings could be assigned.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for multiple scars of the scalp and neck is pending as it will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Central Office hearing. The issues are about service connection and an increased rating for his scars.