Scars Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including injury to Muscle Groups XIV and XVII, right lower extremity with fracture of the femur and impairment of hip and femur motion with degenerative knee and hip changes, scars, and insomnia, are rated at a maximum of 60 percent. The case is granted as his TDIU claim is also met due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his keloid chest scar was denied because he failed to report for the scheduled VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied because he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in connection with his service-connected left foot and left leg disorders.

The veteran's PTSD is not productive of total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% evaluation.,The veteran's left hand scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for various scars and tender scars, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for orthopedic residuals of a left shoulder injury and increased disability ratings for the veteran's service-connected scars. The veteran is not entitled to additional compensation based on his service-connected abrasions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, and he is currently unemployable due to these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The hearing at the RO is also scheduled.

The veteran's right eye injury with corneal scarring and retained glass is currently rated at 0 percent disabling.,The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Board found that the veteran's post-operative infections were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. The infections were deemed reasonably foreseeable given his medical history and condition.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is being remanded due to incomplete medical records, a lack of determination regarding his need for regular aid and assistance, and an incomplete examination report.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible rating of 100 percent, and his postoperative prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent. The shell fragment wound residuals of the left thigh remain noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficiently disabling to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a TDIU.

The veteran's post-operative scar of the right ear was increased to a 30 percent evaluation from August 30, 2002. His service-connected neuritis of the fifth cranial nerve continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the service-connected epigastric hernia and a 10 percent rating for the scar of the abdomen, effective from October 2001.

The Board finds that the veteran does not currently have a right facial strain or any other disability resulting from his in-service head laceration, and thus service connection for a right facial strain is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia and scarring of vocal cords secondary to the hiatal hernia are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA dermatologic examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's service-connected acne with scars and whether any residual scarring is tender and painful. The RO should consider a separate rating for tender and painful residual acne scars if warranted.

The Board has found that the August 1948 rating decision contained clear and unmistakable error in failing to address the veteran's gunshot wound injury to his right buttock. The RO is directed to reconsider this issue, taking into consideration both Muscle Groups involved.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 0 percent for a scar of the forehead was denied as VA could not determine his current condition without an examination, and he failed to report for the required examination.