Scars Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the left lateral periorbital area based on the Veteran's credible recollection of an in-service injury and the presence of a scar found by VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for macular scarring of the left eye and found that new evidence supports a reopening, but still denies service connection due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings or service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating or higher for his GERD with hiatal hernia, DJD of the right great toe metatarsophalangeal joints with cheilectomy right great toe, and DJD of the left great toe metatarsophalangeal joints and osteotomy left second toe. The Veteran's claims for service connection were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for malaria, a scar of the head, and a headache disability were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions during or after his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the back has resulted in scars but no functional limitation of motion or disability. As such, a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on unemployability. The case is REMANDED to obtain an opinion regarding whether he is capable of securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 3, 2005 for a 10 percent rating for scars of the fingertips of the long and ring fingers of the right hand is granted.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including providing the Veteran with a VCAA notification letter and readjudicating his increased rating claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, scar on the head, and hepatitis, non-A, non-B. The evidence did not show current disabilities or in-service incurrence of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for scars on his hands and arthritis of his hands have been granted. However, the claims for hearing loss and tinnitus remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial disability evaluations for his left forearm scar and well-healed incision, right iliac crest, are both rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected scar, left inguinal herniorrhaphy was denied as the current 10 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected post-surgical right inguinal hernia with scar is being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and verifying the Veteran's current address.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to comply with the Court's June 2004 decision, which found that VA had failed to provide proper notice. Additional development is needed for compliance with VA's duty to assist and notify.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening any of the Veteran's service connection claims, as it is either insufficient to establish new and material evidence or does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's right elbow scars, but denied a compensable rating for his lower back scars.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of the conditions she is claiming service connection for, and thus, her claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge to address his claim regarding the evaluation of residuals of left inguinal hernia repair, including a tender and painful scar and any residual neurological manifestations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on the cumulative effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.