Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right hand and index finger disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the appeal seeks a higher rating. The VA denied an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of an injury to the dorsum of the right hand and right index finger.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from infection due to chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small cell lymphoma.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and provide VCAA compliant notice.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for burn scars of the left and right hands, but denied his claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of 80 percent for burn scars of the face.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for scarring of the left ear, including the left ear drum and vertigo have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's representative withdrew all issues on appeal, and the appeals are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a computer under Chapter 31, finding that it is not necessary to assist him in functioning independently or in the community.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for residuals of right inguinal hernia repair was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and therefore restoration of service connection is warranted. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of a right groin cyst removal and right inguinal hernia surgery remains unresolved.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, gastrointestinal, and cervical spine disabilities are secondary to his service-connected post-operative scar of the abdomen. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for scars of the chest and back from October 23, 2008 was granted. The previous ratings were denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension was denied, and his initial rating for a scar behind the right ear status post cyst excision is currently at 10 percent. The Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss after December 7, 2004 remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a more contemporaneous examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected neck pain.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, adenocarcinoma of the omentum, was not caused by a service-connected condition or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for residual scars of the face and right groin muscle strain have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 30% for his facial scars, but not for his right groin muscle strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his right thigh disability and determine if his low back and right knee disorders are related to his service-connected right thigh disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory condition and lung tumor are not related to his active service. The examiner concluded that the current conditions were less likely due to bronchitis in service, attributing them more to age, environmental factors, genetics, and smoking history.

The Veteran's low back disability was initially rated as noncompensable prior to March 27, 2008. From that date, he is entitled to a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death. The appellant-widow is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was attributed to COPD.