Scars Board decisions

The Board has granted a disability evaluation of 30 percent for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left thigh with retained foreign bodies, and denied an increased rating for multiple scars on the right forearm.

The Board denied a TDIU rating, finding that the veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unemployable.

The veteran's skin disorder was not present until many years after separation from service and is not listed among the disorders which may be presumed to have resulted from exposure to herbicides. The RO denied his claim for service connection based on this evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck injury and facial scars are not related to his service-connected disabilities, resulting in a denial of both issues.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and compensable ratings were denied. The RO granted service connection for residuals of a fracture of the mid portion of the left ulna and olecranon process, impairment of the seventh cranial nerve, laceration scar of the upper scalp, and trichiasis of the left lower eyelid with noncompensable ratings assigned.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected dermatomycosis of the feet and buttocks, as well as his residual scars from shell fragment wounds of the face, left thigh and back. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions warrant any higher rating.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted a 40 percent evaluation effective October 28, 1998. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of a low back disorder and for increased evaluations for PTSD, post-traumatic migraine headaches, tinnitus, residuals of a left knee injury with post-traumatic arthritis, status post excision of fibromatosis with residual scar, and mid-occipital scalp scar. The RO confirmed noncompensable ratings for hearing loss and scar, residual of a left temple gunshot wound.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back disorder, right leg varicose vein stripping scars, hemorrhoids, and knee disorders were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for any condition.

The Board denied the claims for increased evaluations and eligibility for educational assistance, finding no new evidence to reopen service connection claims or establish entitlement. The low back condition was rated as noncompensable, chondromalacia of both knees as noncompensable, residuals of a left foot scar as noncompensable, and hallux valgus on the right as 10 percent disabling for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a pilonidal cystectomy, effective from August 25, 1996. A separate 10 percent rating is also granted for his recurrent rectal abscesses.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of entitlement to an increased evaluation for any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities. The current 10 percent ratings are deemed appropriate based on the clinical findings and diagnostic codes applied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the veteran with examinations to assess his current disability status.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO affirmed the determinations previously entered and granted entitlement to an increased (compensable) evaluation of 10 percent for a SFW scar of the right hand.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, a tender abdominal scar, and an increased evaluation for the service-connected gastrointestinal disorder. The veteran's ventral hernia and hemorrhoids are not found to be related to his service-connected gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right flank scar, which resulted from a surgical procedure performed during service to treat a pre-existing kidney disorder, is not service-connected as it does not meet the criteria for service connection due to its nature being postoperative and ameliorative in nature.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a head injury. The veteran's claims for neck or cervical disc injury, back injury, and back scars are denied as not established by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected perianal scar, status post fistulectomy with incontinence, warrants a disability rating of 60 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his acne with scars was denied by the Board, as the current rating of 30 percent is deemed appropriate based on the severity and extent of his condition.