Scars Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for malaria and a noncompensable rating for the shell fragment wound residual neck scar due to lack of competent evidence demonstrating current disabilities or residuals from these conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, which includes arthritis, instability, and post-surgical scarring.

The Board found that the veteran's left-sided facial scarring was a necessary consequence of proper treatment for pre-orbital cellulitis, and denied his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The VA determined that the veteran's scar on his left fourth finger does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable disability evaluation guidelines.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, residuals of a gunshot wound to the left leg (Group XI), and scar from a right hand gunshot wound were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for any compensable evaluations under the applicable VA rating schedules.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his postoperative scar of the right lower quadrant abdominal abscess and determined that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen his service connection claim for arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The VA denied a compensable disability evaluation for the veteran's scar of the right forearm, which was not found to meet the criteria for any higher rating based on muscle or nerve damage.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a generalized skin disorder related to his service and denied his claim for an increased evaluation of a laceration scar of the left forehead.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a left forearm scar and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine (claimed as a low back condition) must be remanded due to inadequate notice, incomplete application, and need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a burn to the left foot and ankle, as well as ischemia of both lower extremities due to abdominal surgery. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected burn scars of the right foot was granted with a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to changes in the law brought about by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral eye disability, finding that no such disability was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media with perforation and scars of the eardrums have been granted. The evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is now at 60 percent effective June 10, 2001.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected right wrist and right elbow scars, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a compensable evaluation for his left ear lobe scar, and denied service connection for residuals of a head injury, residuals of lacerations of the arms, legs, and chest, and a cyst in the mouth. The evidence did not support the veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's choroidal scar of the left eye and residuals from a cesarean section were not incurred or aggravated by service, as her pre-existing conditions clearly existed prior to entry into service.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely and adequately perfect an appeal of his claims for increased disability ratings for residuals of a fracture of the left femur, multiple shell fragment wound scars, and service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (claimed as a right lung condition). The claim for PTSD was granted with a 10% rating.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, effective July 22, 1991. The VA has granted a higher initial rating for the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder from April 29, 1999, to meet his current level of disability.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of right inguinal hernia repair are rated as 10 percent disabling, and a separate 10 percent rating is granted for his right inguinal scar.