Scars Board decisions

The veteran's unauthorized private hospitalization and care from June 27 to July 7, 1998 was deemed appropriate due to the nature of his ongoing medical needs related to his service-connected psychiatric disability. VA facilities were not feasibly available for transfer at that time.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a nervous disorder to include depression, and compensable ratings for residuals of a scar of the left thumb and residuals of a fracture of the left ankle. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective March 9, 1999. However, the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date due to his failure to demonstrate unemployability within a year prior to filing the claim.

The veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound of the throat with scar and retained foreign body does not preclude him from obtaining or retaining gainful employment, thus a total rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board dismissed the motion for revision of its October 1983 decision denying an increased rating for residuals of a linear scar on the right upper eyelid, finding that the veteran did not set forth specific allegations of error either of fact or law.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected torn ligament, right knee, and scar, posterior scalp, laceration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for an iris cyst in the right eye is denied as there is no current disability and no treatment since service. The issue of facial scars of the left eyelid and chin will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for abdominal scarring due to a radical prostatectomy performed in April 1993, and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective August 29, 1994. The Board also found that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, hand tremors, and facial scars. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's chest pains were not related to his service-connected disabilities, and he was not receiving a total disability evaluation for any service-connected disability at the time of the private treatment. The VA Medical Center in Walla Walla denied reimbursement or payment due to lack of prior authorization.

The Board granted service connection for a ventral hernia as secondary to service-connected ulcer disease with gastrectomy and vagotomy, effective May 1, 1996. A separate evaluation of 20% was assigned for the ventral hernia. The veteran's low back disability remains at 40%. Service connection for status post vagotomy is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is required due to the need for a VA examination and review of medical records.

The veteran's second-degree burn scars on the right and left upper extremities are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings possible under applicable diagnostic codes. The face and neck scars do not meet criteria for a compensable rating.,Mild hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective from April 16, 1999. Prior to that date, the veteran's hypertension was rated noncompensably disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various hearing, ear, and gastric conditions. The RO also granted service connection for tinnitus but assigned a noncompensable rating to his left ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran's right nostril scar is no more than slightly disfiguring and did not result in any functional impairment, thus denying a compensable evaluation. The claim for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right upper arm scar, residual of excision of sinus tract, does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was denied because he failed to appear for VA examinations scheduled in December 1998 and April 2000, and there is no evidence of record showing that his disabilities render him permanently and totally disabled.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical spine disability and right eye disorder, finding that the current symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's disabilities do not render her unable to care for her daily personal needs without assistance from others, or unable to protect herself from the hazards and dangers of daily living on a regular basis. The RO denied entitlement to special monthly pension by reason of being in need of regular aid and attendance or on account of being housebound.