Scars Board decisions

The Veteran was not found to be unemployable due solely to his service-connected disabilities prior to December 28, 2007. However, on and after that date, his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for medical opinions regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his scar of the left buttock was granted. However, his attempt to reopen his service connection claim for a spinal disorder was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and employment history.

The Veteran is granted special monthly pension at the housebound rate due to his age and multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claim for vitreous floaters was granted. The claims for initial evaluations of ulcerative colitis and hypertension remain pending.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee scars, finding that the evidence did not show a marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization due to the condition. The current level of disability was found to be noncompensable.

The Board has granted the Veteran a 10 percent evaluation for schizoaffective disorder and found that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including his right wrist and ulnar nerve disabilities. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran has chronic headaches as a residual of his head injury during service, but does not have other residuals attributable to this injury.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected right eye scarred cornea is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including providing notice and obtaining medical records, as well as arranging for a new examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and a cardiac condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical treatment on July 13, 2007 due to lack of prior VA authorization and because VA facilities were available.

The VA medical treatment provided in March 1996 was deemed proper, and the scarring of the left side of the face is considered a necessary consequence of that treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected deep muscle injury residuals from a shell fragment wound to the left lateral chest are granted with a rating of 20 percent. A separate compensable disability rating for a scar as a residual of SFW to the lateral left chest is also granted, and chronic bilateral epididymitis is assigned a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound of the left lower leg, with scar, are not productive of moderately severe damage to Muscle Group XI and thus do not warrant an increased rating. The Board also found no competent medical nexus evidence linking his back disability to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not continuously rated totally disabling for at least five years from the date of his separation from service, and therefore, he is not eligible for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, as his GAF score indicates mild symptoms and he is able to perform activities of daily living. His hearing aids allow him to work in most situations, and his tinnitus is described as bothersome rather than disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected left eye disability results in vision limited to no worse than 20/40, with no significant impairment of field of vision. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for chronic pneumonia, an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for low back strain, and a compensable evaluation for abdominal scars. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.