The Veteran's hypertension is denied as not related to service.,His multiple scars of the forehead with slight disfigurement are rated at 10% and no higher rating is granted.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of spinal fusion is remanded.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70%, but a higher rating is not granted.,An effective date earlier than October 13, 1970 for the award of service connection for multiple scars of the forehead with slight disfigurement and an effective date earlier than December 5, 2013 for tinnitus are denied.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension was not shown during service or within one year post-service, nor is there evidence to support a finding that it is related to service.,The Veteran does not have visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features, or; two or three characteristics of disfigurement. Therefore, the 10% rating for multiple scars of the forehead with slight disfigurement is appropriate.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of spinal fusion requires further review and evidence to determine if it qualifies.,The Veteran's PTSD meets the criteria for a 70% disability rating, but no higher as there are no additional symptoms or disabilities that would warrant such a rating.,There is no legal basis for an earlier effective date for service connection of multiple scars of the forehead with slight disfigurement and tinnitus.

Claimed conditions

Hypertension, Multiple scars of the forehead with slight disfigurement, Tinnitus

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating

Not verified here — check the original decision

Decision date

July 18, 2019

Citation

19155632

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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19155632.