Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for the scar on his right hand was denied as there is no evidence of entitlement to service connection within one year of discharge, and the current disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death of the Veteran, finding that his service-connected chronic gastritis with history of peptic ulcer was not a principal or contributory cause of his death.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence regarding the alleged eye surgeries in April 2002 or May 2002.

The Veteran's service-connected scar, status post right inguinal hernia repair, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disability was not continuously rated totally disabling for a period of 10 or more years immediately preceding death, and therefore the criteria for payment of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 have not been met.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it is causally related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The appellant has residuals of an in-service right ring finger dislocation, and service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a painful facial scar, lip to jaw was denied because there is no evidence of the claimed condition in service or currently.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for surgical scars on both hips, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable criteria.

The case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining consent forms and a further VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (healed right occipital scar, rated 0 percent, right inguinal herniorrhaphy, rated 0 percent, headaches, rated 30 percent, and generalized anxiety disorder, rated 50 percent) are not shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's scar, which covers an area of 56 sq. cm., is granted a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for various disabilities, including DJD of the right knee, postoperative meniscal tear of the right knee, DJD of the left knee, DJD and DDD of the lumbar spine, DJD of the right ankle, rotator cuff tear of the right shoulder, DJD of the left hip, surgical scars on the left thigh, left knee, lumbosacral spine, and right knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for a TDIU, finding that the current assigned ratings were appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for right eye disorders, including conjunctivitis, macular degeneration and scar, presbyopia, dermatochalasis, and cataracts, as the evidence did not show a relationship to active military service.

The Veteran's scar is two inches long, not deep and does not cause limitation of motion. The Board denied an increased rating for the scar.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board denied higher ratings for the cervical spine, post-traumatic headaches, and deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's visual acuity in his left eye was 20/400, and he is legally blind in that eye; however, a remand is necessary to determine the severity of the nonservice-connected right eye.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg above-the-knee amputation and a chest scar, as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims ruled that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for a back disability are met and that service connection is warranted.