Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a scar of the left index finger was granted with an initial evaluation of 10 percent. The effective date for service connection of tinnitus was set at October 29, 2007.

The Veteran does not currently have any diagnosed chronic eye disability for VA purposes, to include a corneal scar of the right eye. Therefore, service connection for an eye disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left eye disability, which includes blindness with no light perception and corrected visual acuity of 20/25 in the right eye, was denied as there is not sufficient evidence to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board denies service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected shrapnel wound scars and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for scarring of the right eardrum and finds that the Veteran's current residuals are markedly thin right tympanic membrane with retracted with Nature's Type III tympanoplasty. The claim for head injury residuals including disequilibrium is denied as it cannot be substantiated as a matter of law due to its association with service-connected otitis media.

Service connection was not established for the Veteran's left knee disability due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by active service. However, he is entitled to a 10% rating for his right scapular scar since July 23, 2001.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for muscle, nerve, and scar residuals from a gunshot wound of the left thigh. The current ratings are found to be appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Appellant's lumbar disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected right eye disability, characterized as corneal scar with aphakia, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for achalasia with scarring from post esophageal surgery were denied. The Veteran was previously awarded service connection for achalasia with scarring from esophageal surgery, but the current appeal is about establishing a new basis for service connection or increasing his existing disability rating.

The Veteran's scar on the right third finger is found to be related to military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a residual scar of the right eyebrow, headaches, hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's residuals of a left eye injury, resolving all doubt in his favor. The claim for a separate rating for scarring from the left eye is referred to the RO for further action.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for a postoperative scar on his right chest, which he claims is related to a service injury. The VA has ordered further examination and development of the case.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the pending issues have been satisfied by recent rating actions.

The Veteran requested an earlier effective date for a separate 10 percent rating assigned in April 2006 for his status postoperative left inguinal hernia repair. The Board denied this request, finding that the effective date could not be earlier than April 1, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and denied DIC benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for various disabilities, including weakness of the left and right upper extremities, scars, tinnitus, numbness of the scalp, a neck scar, hypertension, and left ear hearing loss, are denied as they attempt to vitiate the finality of the February 2003 rating decision assigning an effective date of October 9, 2001.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his hidradenitis suppurativa and donor site scars, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations. The TDIU claim was also denied.