Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's right ankle disability is service-connected and found to be related to her military service.,Service connection for residuals of fractures of the right thumb and great toe, as well as a left breast scar, has been granted. However, noncompensable ratings have been assigned.

The Veteran's appeal includes a claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 10 percent rating for left thigh skin graft scar and a claim for higher initial ratings for his left knee degenerative arthritis. The Board found that both issues were factually ascertainable more than one year prior to the claims, but granted only the earlier effective date claim.

The Board has determined that additional development of the record is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran was granted a combined disability rating of 70 percent for service-connected disabilities effective August 25, 2005. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for TDIU as of this date and confirmed the effective date of January 17, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination to assess the severity of his psychiatric disability. The issues include seeking a higher rating for PTSD and determining if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an abdominal scar, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus. The initial noncompensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disorder, diagnosed as corneal scar left eye secondary to old trauma, was denied by the Board due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for right knee total knee replacement status post medial meniscectomy with residual scars or instability of the right knee, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for her service-connected bilateral foot disability was granted, with a current effective date not specified.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain in-patient hospitalization records from Womack Army Hospital, the 3rd Field Hospital in Vietnam, and the 106th General Hospital in Japan. Additionally, his treatment records from Dr. Heffelfinger, Dermatology, LTD., and other identified locations are also required.

The Veteran's service-connected left hand scars are evaluated as noncompensable (zero percent) due to the lack of deep, painful, or unstable characteristics. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right pre-auricular scar and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent at the time of his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung condition is not related to his active service and denied reopening of his claim for bronchial tube scarring.

The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right great toe disorder. The case is therefore REMANDED for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia due to new and material evidence. The claims for PTSD, phlebitis/venous insufficiency, brain disorder, right hip scar, and right hip disorder have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, right wrist ganglionectomy residuals (scar and decrease in motion), and stuttering disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected tender scar, left foot was rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in functional limitations of the affected part or disabling effects not considered in the current rating.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of torn meniscus with instability in the right knee are rated at 30 percent, his traumatic arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and his tender surgical scar is rated at 20 percent effective from February 22, 2011.