Scars decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding proposed reductions in ratings for service-connected left eye macular scar and migraines, as they were premature.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent disability evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for left hand fracture residuals and denied separate compensable ratings for the ring finger, little finger, and elbow scars.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for migraine headaches, right ankle disability, left lower extremity disability, and left thigh scar.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for tension headaches and a TDIU, while denying increased ratings for various service-connected conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral inguinal hernia and residual scar, but remanded claims for service connection for low back disability, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to exhaust all efforts to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for peripheral nephropathy, right foot associated with right foot strain and a 50 percent rating for hysterectomy. The claims for a compensable rating for miscarriage and an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine were denied.

The Board granted service connection for epidermal cysts and related scars on the back, face, and arms based on evidence of in-service toxic exposures.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, as well as special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) effective September 23, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions and denied an initial compensable rating for the veteran's right hip disability with impairment of the thigh and right hip scars.

The Board granted service connection for six surgical scars and insomnia, as secondary to the service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain status post laminectomy. It also granted a 50% disability rating for the intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain status post laminectomy, effective July 31, 2017, and a TDIU due solely to this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar, anterior trunk, and a compensable rating for a scar, anterior trunk, residual from hydrocele surgery.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, a compensable rating for scar, left frontal area, and service connection for traumatic brain injury.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for right wrist and left-hand burn scar residuals but denied a compensable rating for facial burn scar residuals.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, a left knee disorder, a right knee disorder, a left foot disorder, a right foot disorder, a painful right ring finger scar, a neck disorder, a back disorder, and a right hand disorder based on the evidence showing these conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected limitation of extension of the left knee, effective August 17, 2023. The other claims were denied.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) is dismissed, while diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral hearing loss are granted with specific ratings.

The Veteran's neck scars were granted a 30 percent disability rating, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal. The claim for an increased rating for painful scars under DC 7804 was denied.