Scars decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the length of his convalescence following surgery on October 20, 2009. The issue of an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability remains in appellate status.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability did not cause or contribute substantially to his death, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, DEA under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35, and service-connected burial benefits due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and scar have been granted service connection, but a noncompensable rating has been assigned for the scar.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied as he does not meet the eligibility requirements due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The initial compensable rating and increased disability rating claims are pending.

The Veteran's right knee scar and patellofemoral syndrome are found to be related to his service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability and surgery were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, characterized as DeQuervain tenosynovitis with a scar, is rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5215. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's death was not due to willful misconduct, but he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as his service-connected disabilities were not rated at 100% disabling for a continuous period of at least one year prior to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently rated as noncompensable, and the residual scar of her left index finger is also rated as noncompensable.,Both conditions are found to be mild in nature with no functional impairment or additional disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of whether a TDIU is warranted on an extraschedular basis due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no credible evidence of a shrapnel wound during service and denied the Veteran's claim for a scar from a shrapnel wound.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as her conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's shell fragment wound scars on the popliteal area of the right lower leg have been rated as noncompensable since November 1989. The Board found that his current condition does not warrant a compensable rating based on the superficial nature and linear configuration of the scars, which do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain VA examinations and additional medical records, as well as to consider whether separate ratings for surgical scars are warranted.

The Veteran's appendectomy scar, which was observed to be a linear scar with an area of two square centimeters (three tenths of a square inch), did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations. The scar was neither deep nor limited in motion, and it was not painful or unstable.

The Board denied service connection for viral conjunctivitis, a right foot disorder, a right elbow disorder, and residuals of a head injury, to include a left eyebrow scar. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence presented.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD and has determined that a scar on the back/shoulder as a residual of a gunshot wound is due to military service. Further development will be undertaken before addressing the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations. The Veteran's son's helpless child status claim also requires further development.