Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and considering his claim for a TDIU. His service-connected disabilities include PTSD, hearing loss, left hand disabilities, tinnitus, and scars.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and left arm scar are related to his military service. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer disability did not warrant an earlier effective date than October 29, 2008 for a 20 percent rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's right groin scar is not causally related to active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee scar, which is superficial and not painful on examination, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code. The VA examiners found no limitation of motion or instability due to the scar.

The Veteran's acne, nodulocystic condition with moderate scarring involving the lower aspect of his face is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current condition.

The Veteran's shell fragment wound scars of the right lower extremity are currently rated at 10 percent, effective October 17, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted prior to this date.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of an abdominal stab wound with laparoscopy scar and ventral hernia secondary to a temporary colostomy do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's metastatic carcinoma of the lung was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. A service-connected disability did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted separate evaluations of 10 percent for each of the seven identified hand scars, as they are painful and do not cause limited motion or exceed 144 square inches.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current left hand disorder, lower back disorder, heart disorder, or renal disorder related to service. The Veteran's muscle injury was rated at 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand disability, to include scars of the palm and fifth finger, is manifested by symptoms of pain on examination and use. The Board has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for each scar under Diagnostic Code 7804 and a 10 percent evaluation for limitation of motion of the fingers under Diagnostic Code 5229.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a medical examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease of the Cervical Spine and Left Eye Disability with Defective Vision and Scarring, finding these conditions are related to military service. Service connection was denied for a Back Disability (Low Back Pain).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for scarring of the lungs was denied as there is no evidence linking his current lung disorder to military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bronchitis and chronic scarring of the bilateral lungs as a result of asbestos exposure. The case must be remanded to obtain an opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's arthritis of the right ankle to her service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected residual scar on the middle of his back does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.