Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU, Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits, and a 40 percent evaluation for left knee disorder are denied as there is no evidence of unemployability or disability prior to the assigned effective dates.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected conditions were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence was against the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's pilonidal cyst scar and associated peripheral neuropathy have been evaluated at 20 percent since the claim was filed. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right scapular instability, status post serratus palsy, post-operative flexor tendon transplant of the right thumb, and scar of the forehead, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating due to their combined disability rating of 50 percent. The Board found that the Veteran is not unemployable solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residual scars of the right leg are due to an injury sustained during military service and affords the full benefit of doubt in his favor, granting him service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's death was caused by suicide due to chronic pain from his service-connected disabilities, and he meets the criteria for service connection for cause of death. The appellant is also eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating for sebaceous cyst scars with hidradenitis/furunculosis prior to July 2007 and a higher rating since that date. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging for a new VA dermatological examination.

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

The Board has denied service connection for memory loss and scars on the face and skull as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's account of a shrapnel wound to his head during service is credible, and thus service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head, including a scar, is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for facial scarring and an increased rating for his psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection, and concluded that the current disability was not related to his only service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, including degenerative joint disease. The claim for a cataract and corneal scar in the left eye is denied as there is no evidence of permanent aggravation during service.

The Veteran's surgical scar on the left foot is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular award for a superficial, non-disfiguring scar that causes pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right ulna fracture with radial deviation and complete loss of radial and ulnar flexion, were found to be insufficient for the grant of TDIU due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is seeking payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical services provided at Maine Medical Center from May 4, 2007 to May 10, 2007. The VA denied the claim due to the Veteran refusing transfer to a VA facility and because VA regulations precluded payment for treatment procured through private sources in preference to available Government facilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a scar, residual of a gunshot wound was denied due to the death of the appellant.