Scars decisions — 2014

The Veteran's effective date for the award of total disability rating based on individual unemployability is set at March 20, 2006, as this was within one year prior to his formal claim and it became factually ascertainable that he was unemployable due to service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his shrapnel wound to right buttock or postoperative abdominal scar, and there was insufficient evidence of a current lung disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher combined evaluation was denied as there is no legal merit. The RO properly calculated the combined evaluation based on the Combined Ratings Table and bilateral factor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current jaw disability and his abdominal scar is less than the required area for a compensable rating. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing due to the lack of notice regarding an earlier scheduled hearing. The claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right finger disorders and a scar on the right chest. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a corneal scar of the right eye, finding that the current diagnosis is related to an injury in service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a status post Caesarian section abdominal scar is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise, and that service connection is warranted for this condition. The issue of bilateral hammertoes remains pending as no new examination was conducted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis was not found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death, and the Board determined that it did not contribute to his cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bullet lodged in the buttocks, leg pain due to a bullet lodged in the buttocks, gunshot wounds of the right thigh and leg, scarring of the right hip and thigh, residuals of a low back injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The evidence does not show any such conditions were present during service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 1, 2009.

The Veteran's upper extremity scars are rated as noncompensable throughout the period of the claim.,The Veteran's right and left upper extremity status post ulnar transplant disabilities have been rated as 10 percent each, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8516.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder is being remanded for additional development and medical inquiry into the relationship between his current GI disorders and any service-connected disabilities, as well as whether they are aggravated by those conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA Aid and Attendance examination to determine if he requires the regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities, or is housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for current VA examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected disabilities, and for obtaining all outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including lichen planus and associated scars, is related to his military service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's skin disorder was incurred in or caused by service.