Scars Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, skin rash, removal of the left great toenail, and fungus of the left great toenail. Service connection was granted for a scar on the right eyebrow with a rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right leg condition, finding that the current rating of 20 percent adequately reflects his symptoms.

The Board found that the veteran's left eye disability and chronic urinary tract and vaginal infections were not incurred or aggravated during service, as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of preexistence. The claim is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for athlete's foot was granted, and the effective date of his award for bilateral knee disabilities, sebaceous cyst of the right axillary, status post chicken pox with scarring, and tinnitus is set at August 29, 1995.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the thoracic spine and facial scars, finding that there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or disfiguring scars. The current evaluations are considered appropriate.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for residual scars from removal of cysts, headaches, sinusitis, and bronchitis are denied as not well grounded.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of a nexus between the veteran's claimed conditions and his period of service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a mood disorder and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection was not well-grounded, as there is no evidence linking the current mood disorder to service or to a service-connected condition. The claim for a total disability rating was denied because the combined disability rating does not meet the percentage criteria of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The veteran's left foot and ankle disability is related to VA surgery, leading to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151. The painful scar in the right groin area warrants a 10 percent evaluation. Paresthesias of the ilioinguinal nerve are not compensable.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected gunshot wound residuals of the left foot and chest region are denied. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a gunshot wound of the 'left' chest region is deferred.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants a 30 percent disability rating, which is appropriate given his symptoms and current level of functioning. The other claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for scars of the forehead and lip, effective from September 12, 1997.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle injury and an increased rating for cornea scar of the left eye. The veteran's claim for pension eligibility was also denied.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right buttock is not well-grounded and therefore denied. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected shell fragment wound residuals to both arms and left buttock are remanded for further development.

The veteran's sarcoidosis is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling from May 26, 1999.,Prior to July 23, 1996, the right inguinal hernia was rated as noncompensably disabling. From September 1, 1996, bilateral inguinal hernias are evaluated at a 40 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of service-connected gunshot wounds to the abdomen and right thigh were denied as there was insufficient evidence to support higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected post-thoracotomy left chest scar warrants a 10 percent disability evaluation, as it does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to lack of limitation on function or poorly nourished scars.

The veteran's disabilities permanently preclude him from engaging in all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his age, education and work experience. Therefore, he is entitled to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board denied increased evaluations for hypertensive cardiovascular disease with hypertension, scars of the occipital area of the scalp, and scars of the left elbow. The veteran's hypertension was rated as 10 percent prior to July 1996 and 30 percent thereafter.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected gunpowder burn scar on his left thigh does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.