Scars Board decisions

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating of his service-connected surgical scar and for service connection for facial scars, finding that the current 10% evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his right hip area disability. The VA also found no evidence to support a claim for service connection for facial scars.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the veteran's right thigh muscle injury and scarring, effective from the date of the January 1996 decision. The donor site scar is rated separately at a compensable level.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for the veteran's keloid scars, effective June 19, 2000. The effective date was set at June 19, 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not warrant an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that he had been unemployable prior to December 5, 1997.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his laparotomy scar is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a carcinoid tumor of the right lung do not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent. The compensable rating for his thoracotomy scar is also denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected residual shell fragment wound scar to the right leg does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's seizure disorder is rated at 80 percent effective February 19, 1972.,The veteran's sinusitis is rated at 10 percent effective June 22, 1992.

The Board denied service connection for burn residuals, a skin rash of the thighs and left hand, and a bilateral fungal foot infection due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure. The scars secondary to removal of cysts behind the ears were granted a 0 percent disability rating as they are asymptomatic.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected shell fragment wound of the right upper extremity is granted, with an effective date of August 6, 1968.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Glenwood Regional Medical Center on December 14, 1998 were not for a service-connected disability and thus payment or reimbursement is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left pneumothorax is granted. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the scar of the right forehead is denied. A VA neurological examination is needed to determine if the veteran suffers from headaches and facial numbness.

The veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death, and the criteria for DIC based on claimed service connection for the cause of death have not been met. The veteran was denied entitlement to DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected folliculitis and acne scarring of the face, neck, back, and chest was denied because he failed to report for a necessary VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for varicose veins and laparoscopy scar, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for facial scarring, but denied increased ratings for left foot, right knee, and left shoulder scars.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for his service-connected right shoulder and left leg disabilities, finding that there was no factual basis to assign compensable ratings prior to July 29, 1994.,There is no medical evidence of treatment or evaluation concerning the service-connected right shoulder and left leg scars at any time prior to July 29, 1994.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various mental conditions, chronic headaches, bilateral hearing loss and scars on the left rib cage area. The RO has ordered additional development to determine if there is a nexus between these conditions and his military service.