Scars Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an initial disability rating for his scar on the right cornea, as well as his claim to restore service connection for PTSD. The RO is directed to obtain additional evidence regarding the authenticity of the veteran's military awards and stressor allegations.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for the veteran's laceration scar, scalp from 10 percent to zero percent was proper based on a full and complete VA examination report.

The RO denied an increased rating for glaucoma and granted a compensable initial disability evaluation for the scar, residual of pilonidal cyst excision.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the assignment of 10 percent ratings for service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left lower arm and scar of the forehead were denied by the Board.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been granted. Service connection is established for a scar on the head, postoperative residuals of medial and lateral meniscectomy of the right knee, anterior cruciate ligament deficiency of the left knee with degenerative joint disease, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, and gastroesophageal reflux. The veteran's claims for increased evaluations have been granted to 10 percent for postoperative residuals of medial and lateral meniscectomy of the right knee, anterior cruciate ligament deficiency of the left knee with degenerative joint disease, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, and gastroesophageal reflux.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nasal scars, sinusitis, headaches, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The claim for an increased evaluation for nasal polyps secondary to allergic rhinitis was granted with a rating of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for compensation benefits and increased evaluations were denied. The sponge left in the femur during hip arthroplasty is considered of no clinical significance, and material improvement was found to justify reducing his disability evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right inguinal scar was denied, while he received a 20% disability rating for his post-herniorrhaphy right ilio-inguinal and ilio-hypogastric nerve impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a three-wheel scooter as it is not considered necessary part of his outpatient care or treatment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that his bilateral hearing loss was not well-grounded. The other issues were also denied as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition or aggravation during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychoneurosis (anxiety disorder) and denied the remaining claims due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or Gulf War Syndrome.

The veteran is not entitled to payment or reimbursement by VA for medical expenses incurred at Valley Lutheran Hospital from October 13, 1996, to October 15, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and denied both claims for service connection for the cause of death and entitlement to dependents' educational assistance benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an automobile allowance due to lack of evidence showing loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands, feet, or vision.

The Board has found a well-grounded claim for service connection for a chorioretinal scar in the veteran's left eye. The issue of service connection for episcleritis of the right eye is also well grounded, but the relationship to service remains unclear.

The RO denied increased evaluations for the veteran's right shoulder and scalp disabilities, as well as service connection for rhinorrhea.,Service connection was not granted for rhinorrhea due to lack of evidence linking it to in-service septorhinoplasty.

The Board denied an increased rating for scars of the right index and middle fingers, finding that they did not result in more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the musculocutaneous nerves.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a forehead scar. The April 1986 RO decision denying service connection for a left hand disability is not found to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis and ascariasis, finding that there was no clinical evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected conditions have been denied. The RO has assigned the highest possible evaluation of 10 percent for each condition, and no additional compensation is warranted.