Scars Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, malaria, and a shell fragment wound scar of the right scalp region. The veteran was not granted any increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar on the right middle shin and an increased initial evaluation for PTSD.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected multiple varicocele surgeries with recurrence of varicocele and scars, currently rated at 30 percent. The appeal is remanded to consider additional evidence and possibly assign separate evaluations for scarring.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right eye corneal scar does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his corrected vision is no worse than 20/50 in the affected eye and 20/20 in the other.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for chronic headaches, bilateral hearing loss, or scars of the left rib cage. The veteran's claims were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of scars, right knee disability, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right lower extremity were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support an increase in evaluation or service connection.

The veteran is currently shown to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that a total rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities is warranted.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of her service-connected right foot cyst excision scar, postoperative residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy, and right knee disorders were denied as she did not file timely substantive appeals.

The veteran's PTSD claim was denied, and he is currently rated at 30 percent for facial scars and chloracne. Service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD was also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for his degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with history of radiculitis or laceration of the liver.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on May 5, 2003 for chest pain and shortness of breath are reimbursed as the treatment was related to a service-connected disability (COPD) and no VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's left leg cramps and burn scar are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's scars of the right shoulder, head, and chest were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The veteran's sole service-connected disability, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is sufficient to preclude his participation in all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, residuals of head injury, and scar of the neck as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the surviving spouse is not entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 or 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a nexus opinion from VA physicians who previously examined the veteran. The issue of service connection for a blocked nasal lacrimal duct is being remanded.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and readjudicating his claims of service connection for left leg burn scars and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for burn scars, right upper extremity, finding that the medical evidence did not show that the size of the veteran's burn scars exceeded one-half square foot or produced limitation of motion. The claim for service connection for scars on back of head and posterior neck is being remanded.

The veteran's service-connected scar on the dorsum of the right middle finger is rated at 10 percent, and his heterotopic bone formation overlying the third MCP joint remains unassigned a compensable rating. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records since November 2003 for the right middle finger dorsum scar.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic strain of the right hip, but denied entitlement to increased evaluation for facial acne scars and service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities.