Scars Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's laceration scar above the left eye and traumatic arthritis of the low back are service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and PTSD, shell fragment wound scar of the right posterior chest wall, and fractured right tenth rib. The effective date for these grants of service connection was changed to March 5, 1997.

The Board has determined that there is no service-connected disability that caused or contributed to the veteran's death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected incision scars, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a temporary total disability evaluation and that the maximum schedular rating was appropriate.

The veteran's appeal includes requests for increased ratings for PTSD and a laceration scar. The case is being remanded to the RO so that he may be scheduled for a Travel Board hearing, and also because there are issues regarding service connection for shoulder problems (tendonitis) which have not been addressed yet.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for scars of the lower lip and chin, napalm burn on the left index finger, and evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD were denied. Service connection was granted for PTSD but not for the other conditions. The veteran also appealed for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition and TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The veteran's death was attributed to intractable pain at the site of a shrapnel wound, but the appeal is unclear on whether service connection for the cause of death or dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 should be granted.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her service-connected scars were denied by the M&ROC in June 1999.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 1, 1978 for the award of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not demonstrate clear and unmistakable error in prior decisions. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for postoperative residuals of fibrocystic disease of the breasts and postoperative scarring of the left face, finding continuity of symptomatology since active duty.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his hysteria type psychoneurosis with post-traumatic neuropathy of the symphysis pubis, penis, groins, and anterior aspects of the thighs to knees, do not warrant a higher rating. The residual cicatrix (scars) of the groin also does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of contusion of left lower extremity with tender scar and sensory loss adjacent to scar are denied as there is no basis for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left supraorbital area laceration scar residuals and remanded the case for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected disabilities.,The veteran's multiple shell fragment wound scars have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The VA has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for shell fragment wound scars of the left foot and right lower extremity, including residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right ankle. The VA found that there were no significant functional limitations or tissue loss.

The veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and headache disabilities were granted increased ratings. The PTSD rating was also granted, but the left corneal scar did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 10% evaluation, and his scars do not warrant any additional compensation. The hearing loss claim is reopened due to new evidence submitted since June 1989.