Scars Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for postoperative residuals of a right bunionectomy and residual bunionectomy scar, finding that the evidence does not support higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of January 9, 1973 for a 10 percent disability rating for the service-connected scar of the right thigh based on clear and unmistakable error in the January 24, 1973 rating decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his postoperative left eye disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disabling condition related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for corneal stroma scarring and a compensable rating for herpes simplex stomatitis, finding that neither condition warranted such ratings based on the evidence provided.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's residual scar from an excision of a lump below his left clavicle, effective August 30, 2002.

The veteran's lip scar is service-connected and his facial scars are rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new Diagnostic Code 7800 have not been met.

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, did not render him unemployable prior to March 24, 2005. His psychiatric condition was considered moderate in nature, and his low back disability caused only slight limitation of motion.

The Board found that the veteran's multiple scars are not etiologically related to his service-connected right knee disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's postoperative left sural nerve graft scar, finding no evidence warranting such a higher rating under any applicable criteria.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her residuals of a right bunionectomy with reduction of motion of the right great toe and her right bunionectomy scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's residual scarring from a gunshot wound of the right forearm is not painful, unstable, poorly nourished, or has repeated ulceration. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for a separate compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and found that the keloid scars of the chest were presumed to have been aggravated by active service.

The June 20, 1969 rating decision did not involve CUE in assigning separate 10% ratings for multiple scars on both thighs and legs.

The veteran's claims of CUE in the February 1984 and September 1999 rating decisions have been denied. The February 1984 decision granted service connection for residuals of craniotomy with a 10 percent evaluation, while the September 1999 decision separated his single service-connected status-post craniotomy disability into four separate entities (loss of skull, headaches, tinnitus, and forehead scar) and assigned an effective date of August 31, 1993.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including a rating for lumbosacral strain and hearing loss. The RO must review the additional evidence received since June 2003, consider the revised criteria for rating spine disorders and skin disorders, arrange for VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent for the laminectomy scar and denied a higher rating for abdominal scarring.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left posterior chest, left abdomen, and face/neck area warrant increased ratings. The veteran's chest scar is rated at 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 6843, while his abdominal scar is rated at 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7805. His face and neck scars are rated at 30 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7800.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is primarily unable to work due to a low back disability from an intercurrent injury and severe heart disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection, finding that his bilateral eye disorder pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a brain injury, facial scars, septal deviation, tired feeling (fatigue), and dental disorder.