Scars Board decisions

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum jurisdictional threshold for a TDIU, as his combined evaluation is 20 percent. The Board finds no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected or compensation-related disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for duodenal ulcer with residual scarring and low back strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an initial compensable evaluation for his residual scar of the right hand were not addressed due to procedural issues. The claim for a rating greater than 20 percent for healed fractures of the second and third digits of the right hand was denied, while he received a noncompensable rating for his service-connected residuals.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting higher disability ratings or establishing new service-connected conditions.

The VA denied an increased rating for laceration scarring of the head, maintaining a 10% disability rating. The claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of injury to the left vas deferens was also denied.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings on the scars from shell fragment wounds were denied. The claim for service connection for essential hypertension, secondary to diabetes mellitus, was not considered as it has not been adjudicated by the RO.

The Board determined that the veteran's service-connected scar of the left posterior neck from lymph node biopsy warranted a disability rating of 10 percent, effective as of May 16, 2000. The claim for an increased disability rating was denied.

The veteran's service-connected keloid scar of the chest is rated at 30 percent, which corresponds to moderately severe limitation of function in elevating and abducting the arms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected ruptures of the Achilles tendons and associated scars do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and a scar on his right thigh did not render him unemployable prior to May 29, 1998. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim.

The veteran was paid the proper amount of VA benefits while incarcerated, and the appeal for payments in excess of those already received is denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for scars resulting from a bicycle accident in June 1992, which he claims was caused by his service-connected right knee disability. The VA has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the right knee disability and the 1992 accident.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected burn scars is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his ankle scar was denied. The effective date of the grant of a 10 percent disability rating for ankle scar was set at May 15, 2003.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for numbness in the fingertips of the left hand since January 8, 2002. The veteran's condition prior to this date was rated as noncompensable.

The veteran's service-connected cervical myelopathy does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation due to his remaining effective function in both upper and lower extremities.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that his hypertensive and cardiovascular disease was not related to a service-connected disability or an incident of service origin.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his scar on the lower back is being remanded due to incomplete examination reports and lack of consideration of relevant medical history.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left little finger osteoarthritis and scar residuals do not warrant a compensable or increased rating, respectively.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left eye disability and service connection for PTSD. The decision is pending further action by the RO.