The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of the current ratings assigned for his service-connected disabilities.

The deciding factor: The evidence did not show visible or palpable tissue loss, gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features, nor two or three of the other eight characteristics of disfigurement for scars of the head and nose. The veteran's right knee prosthesis was found to have chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity, ankylosis of the knee, extension limited to 30 degrees, or nonunion of the tibia and fibula with loose motion requiring a brace. The veteran did not meet the criteria for moderately severe injury of the right anterior thigh muscles for residuals of gunshot wound to the right thigh. There were no recurrence or residuals noted for postoperative squamous cell cancer of the left true vocal cord.

Claimed conditions

{"condition_name":"Scars of the head and nose","disability_ratings":[{"evaluation":10,"criteria":"Visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features, or two or three of the other eight characteristics of disfigurement."}]}, {"condition_name":"Right knee prosthesis","disability_ratings":[{"evaluation":30,"criteria":"Prosthetic replacement of the right knee joint with chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity, ankylosis of the knee, extension limited to 30 degrees, or nonunion of the tibia and fibula with loose motion requiring a brace."}]}, {"condition_name":"Residuals of gunshot wound to the right thigh","disability_ratings":[{"evaluation":10,"criteria":"Moderately severe injury of the right anterior thigh muscles."}]}, {"condition_name":"Otitis externa (ear infection)","disability_ratings":[{"evaluation":10,"criteria":"Not specified in the provided text"}]}, {"condition_name":"Postoperative squamous cell cancer of the left true vocal cord","disability_ratings":[{"evaluation":0,"criteria":"No recurrence or residuals noted."}]}

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 6, 2006

Citation

0631441

This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0631441.