Scars decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for laryngeal cancer and neck scar disabilities, as the earliest permissible effective date is August 10, 2022, due to the PACT Act.

The Board granted service connection for left and right long finger strains, a right ankle strain, and GERD with hiatal hernia. The appeal seeking increased ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, allergic rhinitis, and scars was dismissed due to severance of service connection.

The Board remands the matters for the AOJ to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing before the AOJ.

The Board remands the claims for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected prostatitis with urethral scarring.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, sleep disability, and heart murmur, bypass surgery and residuals. The claims for left knee, seizure, head injury, scar on the left cheek, cervical spine, and right hip disabilities were remanded for further development.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the notice of disagreement submitted by the Veteran.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right and left lower extremities but denied earlier effective dates and a compensable rating for the posterior trunk scar.

The Board denied service connection for hysterectomy, right side salpingectomy, and uterine fibroids as well as a compensable rating for residuals of left ovarian cyst and suprapubic abdominal scar due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board remands the claims for further development of evidence, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for depression (psychiatric disorder) and remanded the claim for a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral eye disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevented her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment from April 4, 2022, to April 22, 2023.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him disabled to the extent that he requires regular aid and assistance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral spine strain from December 28, 2021, and granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to UTSRD and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD and denied ratings in excess of 50 percent for OSA, IBS, and headaches. The Board also granted service connection for right elbow, left wrist, neck, and left leg shin splints conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, service connection for alcohol use disorder, bilateral hearing loss, scar in left eye, and post traumatic residual pain pressure of right ear.

The Board remands the claims for a dental disorder and chin scar for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to determine their etiology.

The Board granted a 30% disability rating for breast cancer and denied higher ratings for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and a left chest scar, while remanding claims for earlier effective dates.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for anterior trunk scarring and denied service connection for colon cancer.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for the right dorsal hand scar at base of fifth metacarpal and denied a compensable evaluation for the fifth digit phalanx fracture.