Scars Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted.,Further examinations and medical records are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed eczema, right knee disorder, and scar, middle forehead.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected right middle finger disabilities.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a right elbow disorder was granted. His left wrist scar is rated at 10 percent due to its size and function.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine their etiology.

The medications the Veteran took for his service-connected disabilities, including pain medication and PTSD treatment, caused his death from small bowel obstruction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including amputation above the right knee and posttraumatic stress disorder, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for SMC based on this need.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed conditions did not manifest during a period of active military service and are not otherwise related to such service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death from colon cancer, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's shrapnel wound scar does not result in any characteristic of disfigurement or other disabling manifestation, and thus he is not entitled to a compensable initial rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and non-VA treatment records, SSA records, and a VA examination. The claims will be readjudicated based on the evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral calluses and left foot scar are currently rated as 10 percent each, but no higher, for the right and left feet. The Board finds that a rating of 10% is warranted under the former criteria for DC 7804.

The Veteran died from respiratory arrest/pneumonia, with underlying causes including congestive heart failure/coronary artery disease, renal failure, and multiple system atrophy (MSA). The service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. There is no evidence linking the metallic foreign bodies from gunshot wounds to MSA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected skin disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a comprehensive dermatology examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine musculoligamentous strain/sprain and right ring finger scar were evaluated, but neither condition met the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran was not granted any additional compensation.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for blepharitis was withdrawn at his Board hearing. The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are currently rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's service connection claims for anthrax shots and bilateral hearing loss were also withdrawn at his Board hearing.

The Veteran's left forearm scar warrants a disability rating of 10 percent since June 23, 2006. Service connection for residuals of frostbite of the bilateral upper and lower extremities has been granted. The appeal is granted in full.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, liver disorder, and various knee disabilities have been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to an initial compensable rating for his septoplasty.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by a shrapnel wound and scar, is currently rated at 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in rating during this time frame.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's scars of the forehead and left lower lip were initially rated as 10 percent effective June 5, 2015. From October 14, 2015, he is entitled to a separate 20 percent rating for painful and unstable scars.