Scars Board decisions

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's fracture of the right tibia and fibula, with scarring over the right tibia, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for hypertension (reopening of a previously denied claim), right thumb scars, and residuals of inguinal herniorrhaphy. The decision on the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability was not provided.

The veteran's low back disability, eczema, and keloid scars of the left leg are all found to be related to his service-connected right ankle and right foot disabilities. The claims for these conditions are therefore granted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a fungal infection of the upper torso, and denied his requests for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain all kinds of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vision disability, sleep disability, neuropathy of the lower extremities, and tingling of the left hand. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a current disability or a disease/injury in service that could be linked to these conditions.

The appellant's service does not meet the threshold requirements for eligibility for VA pension benefits due to a pre-existing condition that existed prior to service and was not aggravated during service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected chemical burns of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his scar on the left thumb. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions warranted higher disability evaluations.

The veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his surgical scar of the neck has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left knee disability, facial scars, and head trauma with headaches and blurred vision.

The Board finds that the appellant did not have headaches, blackouts, or a scar during service or shortly thereafter. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for a residual scar from the removal of an abdominal mass is granted.

The Board denied an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for a residual scar from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, finding that the evidence did not support such a higher rating.

The veteran's initial increased disability rating of 20 percent for residuals of excision of a ganglion cyst of the left thumb, metacarpophalangeal joint, with scar, effective August 26, 2002, was granted. The previous ratings were not changed.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his occupational experience and educational background. As a result, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a private hospital after September 20, 2004, due to lack of prior authorization and because VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for pyelonephritis with mild hypertension and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and tender scar, right lower quadrant, residual of surgical exploration of pelvic mass associated with stricture of ureter, hydronephrosis and hydroureter, were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for dental trauma to teeth numbers 8 and 9, denied secondary service connection for a left hand condition, and denied compensable ratings for residuals of right ankle injury and scar of the left index finger.

The Board found no residuals of a concussion and denied service connection for a right leg disability separate from the already service-connected conditions. The veteran's right leg symptoms are attributed to his lumbar spine arthritis, which is not related to service.