Scars decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected post-surgical scar of the left foot is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's non-scar upper extremity skin disability is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's shrapnel wound scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as it is currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and whether he is unemployable due to his disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tendonitis and bursitis, urinary incontinence, and low back, hip, and left leg scars are at least as likely as not related to his period of active service, including his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and elbow conditions have been granted, with the right elbow and left elbow conditions remaining at zero percent. The left knee scar has been rated at ten percent.

The Veteran's compensable evaluation for residuals of donor site scar, right iliac crest is denied as the scar does not cause limitation of function. The service connection claim for erectile dysfunction is also denied as it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the claims of entitlement to initial disability ratings higher than 10 percent for a right elbow disability and a right elbow scar. The case is REMANDED for issuance of a statement of the case on the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension.

The Veteran's laceration scar of the left upper lip has not manifested by a scar exceeding five inches in length, with other characteristics of disfigurement. The current evaluation is appropriate.

The Veteran's claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as it is not shown to be related to service or the service-connected dermatofibrosarcoma with residual scalp scar.,The Veteran's claim for dermatofibroma of the left leg, presumed due to herbicide exposure, is denied as there is no evidence that this condition was incurred in service.,The Veteran's claim for a left leg scar secondary to dermatofibroma of the left leg is denied as it is not shown to be related to service or the service-connected dermatofibrosarcoma with residual scalp scar.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) in his claims for increased ratings and effective dates.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability and issuance of a Statement of the Case on the left knee issue.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent for the Veteran's residual burn scar on his posterior thorax, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim was granted with an initial 20 percent rating effective from April 13, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a forehead scar and an initial compensable evaluation for malaria. The evidence received since the April 1982 decision was not new and material to reopen the claim for a forehead scar.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right inguinal hernia and associated scar do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as they are shown to be recurrent and readily reducible without requiring trusses or belts.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include headaches, scarring from a motor vehicle accident, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's acne-like skin condition (dermatitis) was granted a 10 percent evaluation effective as of April 1, 2004. The scar on her right inner thigh was denied an initial compensable evaluation.