Scars Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, shoulder/arm disorder, forearm scars (shrapnel wounds), and degenerative arthritis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine were all denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board is unable to grant the requested increases or establish service connection due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the veteran was continuously rated totally disabled by reason of service-connected disabilities for a period of at least 10 years immediately preceding his death, under the revised regulation.

The veteran's special separation benefits were properly recouped from his VA disability compensation due to a statutory requirement.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for acne keloidalis nuchae and a scar, status post perianal fistulotomy. The conditions are currently rated as they were initially granted.

The veteran's service-connected scars and ulnar neuropathy have been granted increased evaluations, with the right little finger scar receiving a separate evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected inactive, far-advanced pulmonary tuberculosis with pleuroparenchymal thickening, parenchymal scarring and restrictive defective.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate assessment of the severity of the veteran's service-connected inguinal hernia disability.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to consider whether separate compensable ratings are warranted for symptomatic scars of the right thigh, left forearm, and right thumb. The RO should also consider whether a separate rating should be assigned for muscle injury in the right thigh.

The Board has granted service connection for a head scar. The veteran's left shoulder disability and bilateral shin splints are denied as there is no current disability found.

The Board has determined that no new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the RO's 1964 decision that self-inflicted injuries of April 23, 1963 were not incurred in the line of duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current pulmonary disorders are related to service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an increased rating for chronic lumbar strain, and an increased rating for hypopigmented scarring due to undiagnosed rash. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for his left leg disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, headache disability, and skin disorder involving the upper extremities and left leg. The veteran served in Vietnam but there is no presumption of exposure to herbicides.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an inguinal hernia, ascariasis, and hyperacidity as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected asbestosis does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The veteran's initial ratings for his right foot bunionectomy, left elbow avulsion fracture, and related scars have been granted by the RO. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting choroidal scar in the right eye did not undergo permanent aggravation during his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied initial compensable evaluations for the left groin scar, residuals of orchiectomy, and hemorrhoids prior to January 18, 2006. The veteran's left groin scar was found not deep or causing limited motion, thus no compensable evaluation could be granted under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied, while the claim to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for bronchitis due to mustard gas exposure was not reopened.