Head Scars Not Awarded

[fmfdoc]

Question I was given zero percent for a post appendectomy scar but not for the two scars on my head from a dermatology procedure. should i submit a claim for the head scars with an effective date of my intial award in 2007?

[georgiapapa]

Also, the effective date for a new claim for your skin condition and/or scars would be the date your claim is received by the VA for those conditions. You would have an effective date in 2015 not 2007. JMO

[georgiapapa]

You would need your military SMRs documenting your skin condition diagnosis and surgery as well as any VA or civilian medical records showing medical treatment for your skin condition after your discharge.

[Fat]

If the scars are from an active duty surgery, I would take the rating criteria to the surgery doctor or a specialist (skin doctor).

Request they evaluate and submit an Independent Medical Opinion on the individual scars based on the rating criteria.

Remember there are eight criteria related to scars that can be met to satisfy VA law.

[fmfdoc]

thanks for the information..

I also found this information and will bring it up during the exam

A veteran whose scars were rated by VA under a prior version of diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, 7803, 7804, or 7805, as in effect before October 23, 2008, may request review under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, 7804, and 7805, irrespective of whether his or her disability has worsened since the last review. VA will review that veteran’s disability rating to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to a higher disability rating under diagnostic codes 7800, 7801, 7802, 7804, and 7805. A request for review pursuant to this rulemaking will be treated as a claim for an increased rating for purposes of determining the effective date of an increased rating awarded as a result of such review; however, in no case will the award be effective before October 23, 2008.

[Berta]

FAT is correct.

Did they measure the scars and note the measurements in the C & P exam results?

Even if they did, you could get someone perhaps to measure them for you using a sewing tape measure...I guess VA uses something like that.

The measurements might well be different then the C & P measurements and dont for get a picture is worth a thousand words.too.

If you have a web camera , a photo could be taken with the measuring tape on each scar.

I helped a vet years ago who had a horrific gruesome scar and infection from some VA stomach surgery.1151 claim.

He had someone take a color photo of him with no shirt on ,showing the entire scar area and I scanned and put that photo onto every single page of evidence and rebuttal that we had sent to the VA.

He had a GREAT asbestos claim pending too as well.that I helped with, but then

he died, and left no one to continue the claim.

Heartbreaking.....