Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for night vision loss and a compensable initial rating for his residual scar, incision and drainage abscess to the left buttock was denied due to failure to report for a VA examination. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's scar, due to the residuals of a thyroidectomy, is currently evaluated at 10 percent and the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for scars, residuals of Ewing's sarcoma, left lower extremity was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations for headaches, left and right lower extremity disabilities, or scars.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the current severity of his left eye disability and etiology of any respiratory disorder. The service connection claim is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or new material.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have asbestosis or a scar on his right eyelid incurred in service and denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right lower parietal scalp scar does not result in any current ascertainable residuals, and therefore a compensable disability rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, left knee disability, right elbow laceration scar, and depression due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected compartment fasciotomy with postoperative scar, left lower leg, with chronic myofascial low back pain was granted. The current evaluation is 40 percent disabling.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a scar on the back of the head with migraines, finding no evidence of such condition in service or post-service. The psychiatric disorder claim is pending.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, left ankle disorder, and residuals of Achilles tendon repair. The Veteran did not receive a compensable rating for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's left eye scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes, as it is one inch in length and well-healed without associated tissue loss or disfigurement.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot disabilities render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues except the ones related to Agent Orange exposure. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these remaining issues.

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound penetrating the abdomen with liver damage is currently rated at 30 percent, and his scar, gunshot wound to the abdomen with numbness is rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that these ratings are appropriate.,Service connection for sinus bradycardia with pacemaker insertion (claimed as atrial fibrillation) was not granted because there is no evidence showing it was caused or aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The hearing loss claim was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, while the other issues had insufficient evidence to determine their validity.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for additional residuals of shrapnel wounds, affecting the right hand and wrist, and leg scars was denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to his inservice injuries.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the facial scarring and whether it is painful. The claim will be reconsidered under both the amended and pre-amended rating criteria.