Citation Nr: 21013175 Decision Date: 03/08/21 Archive Date: 03/08/21 DOCKET NO. 16-52 164 DATE: March 8, 2021 ORDER Service connection for a scar of the left middle finger is granted. FINDING OF FACT A scar of the left middle finger is etiologically related to service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for a scar of the left middle finger are met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303(a), 3.307, 3.309.   REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from May 1981 to March 1987. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2014 rating decision. The Veteran has been found to be incompetent for the purpose of managing VA payments, the appellant in this case is the Veteran’s brother and fiduciary. In November 2017, the Veteran requested a hearing before the Board. The Veteran withdrew his request for such a hearing in January 2020. Given the Veteran had been found to be incompetent, in August 2020 the Board sent a letter to the Veteran, who resides with the appellant, and the Veteran’s representative requesting clarification whether the Veteran still wished to participate in a hearing. The Board has not received a response to the request. A second letter was mailed to the Veteran in January 2021 that once again asked whether he wished to appear for a personal hearing. No response was received. The Board considers the request for a hearing to have been withdrawn. However, in any event, there is no prejudice to the Veteran as the appealed issue is being granted. Service Connection Service connection may be granted for disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service.  38 U.S.C. § 1131; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.  The three-element test for service connection requires evidence of: (1) a current disability; (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a causal relationship between the current disability and the in-service disease or injury.  Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163, 1166-67 (Fed. Cir. 2004). Turning to the facts in this case, in July 1982, the Veteran received emergency in-service treatment for a simple laceration of the left middle finger. With regard to the presence of a current disability, as noted by the May 2014 examiner, the Veteran has a scar that is attributable to his in-service laceration of the left middle finger. With an in-service injury and a current disability attributable to such injury, the Board finds that service connection for a scar of the left middle finger is warranted. MICHAEL A. HERMAN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board J.A. Flynn, Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.