Scars Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, do not render him unemployable considering his educational and occupational background. The Board concludes that the preponderance of the evidence does not demonstrate total individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The veteran's scarring from hernia surgery is considered to be secondary to his service-connected appendectomy scar, and he was granted service connection for this. However, the evaluation for his appendectomy scar remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's left eye chorioretinal scar, finding no current impairment of vision or function resulting from the service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected scars and dermatological disorders do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and further development is needed.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that none of them were incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service records did not show any evidence of shrapnel wounds, peptic ulcer disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, left shoulder fractures, myocardial infarction, bronchitis, or psychoneurosis with depressive reaction during the veteran's military service.

The veteran withdrew her appeal for lung cancer with scars and nodules on the lungs, as secondary to mustard gas exposure. The VA has fulfilled its duty to assist in obtaining evidence necessary to substantiate the claim for residuals of mustard gas exposure, including tuberculosis; pain and weakness in the arms, back and legs; loss of balance; loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing; and bleeding gums and an oral rash. However, there is no evidence of mustard gas exposure or a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of evidence, including obtaining VA treatment records and addressing the increased rating claims and TDIU issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastritis, a pulmonary disorder, and a right elbow scar due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected appendectomy scar and right inguinal hernia repair. The case will also be reviewed to determine if separate ratings can be assigned under Esteban v. Brown.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left ankle condition and scars are being remanded due to the need for further development of the evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's two tender and painful scars, located on the left wrist, are separate disabilities and warrants a separate 10 percent rating for each.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that she did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to February 24, 1998. The RO assigned a 70% rating for PTSD as of February 24, 1998.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of new evidence and clarification from the examiner regarding whether he reviewed the claims file.

The case has been remanded for further development of the veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and verifying his alleged shore duty in Vietnam.

The veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The issue of postoperative residuals of an excision of a meningioma with blindness of the left eye and surgical scarring remains on appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's right eye injury and subsequent vision loss were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The decision denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for shrapnel wound to the face was granted with a 10% evaluation. The claim for service connection of sickle cell trait with hematuria (claimed as kidney condition) has been reopened due to new and material evidence.

The VA denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disorder and shell fragment wound scars, finding that current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional information regarding the veteran's visual field extent and whether he has diplopia in the central 20 degrees or between 21 and 30 degrees in the right eye.