Scars decisions — 2011

The Board has ordered additional development to determine whether the Veteran's atherosclerosis was related to his period of active service and if so, whether it contributed to his death. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion from a VA cardiologist.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, as he is able to engage in sedentary employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's eye disorder, including chorioretinal scarring with an enlarged blind spot, pre-existed his service and was not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected shell fragment wounds.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable since October 5, 2005. The claim for increased ratings for the left femur fracture and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for right ankle scars, effective October 8, 2008. The claim for a compensable rating for tinea pedis of the left foot is still pending.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for lung scars and a respiratory disability is being remanded due to outstanding records, including service treatment records that cannot be located. The VA will gather additional medical evidence and schedule an examination if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current nature, extent and severity of his shrapnel wound residuals. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's pyogenic granuloma and incision and drainage scar have been granted initial compensable ratings, with the rating of 10% effective from June 13, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has ordered another VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee scar and remand the case for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a dislocated right shoulder and a scar on the left leg, with effective dates set at November 15, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 13, 1999, for the grant of service connection for a postoperative scar of the left ankle and tinnitus were denied as there was no earlier claim received within one year following separation from service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen certain claims. The right knee condition claim is reopened but remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for scar residuals of an appendectomy and that the Veteran failed to appear for his scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection as it is related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service. Service connection for Hepatitis C and Residual Scar of the Left Palm are pending due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his acne conglobata of the neck and upper to mid-back, including any associated scarring, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's GERD is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides. However, the current disorder was not linked to his military service and there is no evidence of a link between other claimed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case to provide a VA examination and medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran currently has a residual SFW scar on the back of his head, and to address its current nature and etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand scar is not service-connected as it resulted from his own willful misconduct during active duty.