Scars decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for scars residual of left inguinal varicocelectomy and right spermatocelectomy, but denied a compensable rating for residuals, status post-surgery for left varicocele and right spermatocele of the epididymis.

The Board granted service connection for cervical and lumbar conditions, chronic migraines, MDD, and readjudicated the claims for hives, lung scarring, elbow, and ankle conditions as secondary to Valley Fever.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment prior to June 14, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for additional disability under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to October 2017 VA medical care (panniculectomy) and secondary service connection theories.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for right thigh scar, service connection for hypothyroidism, bilateral fallen arches, sinusitis, and sexual dysfunction secondary to hypothyroidism due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hand disability diagnosed as bilateral hand strain and left 3rd finger fragment is granted, along with an initial 10 percent rating for keloid scars chest, bilateral lower extremity, back, and bilateral upper extremity from August 13, 2018.

The Board restored the 40% rating for the service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and herniated disc status post L5-S1 disc replacement effective June 25, 2024, and granted an initial 10% rating for a surgical scar on the anterior trunk.

The Board denied an increased rating for CAD, granted a 20 percent rating for painful scars of the anterior upper trunk, and granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension. The claims for increased ratings for GERD and ED were also denied.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for an opiate dependency disorder is dismissed, and the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. Several other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and denied increased ratings for a painful post-right inguinal hernia repair scar, hemorrhoids, and migraine headaches. The reduction of the rating for prostate cancer from 100 percent to 60 percent was upheld.

The Board denied service connection for a skin condition, including acne, epidermoid cyst, and scarring, as the evidence did not show that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostatitis, kidney stones, and multiple other disabilities. The earlier effective date claim was also denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, under the PACT Act and remanded several other claims related to various disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a scar on the right ring finger and denied service connection for refractive errors of the eyes. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the left eye disability effective December 6, 2021, and denied a higher rating prior to that date. The sternotomy scar was also denied a compensable rating.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for the left eye condition and left eyelid scar prior to April 5, 2021, but denied a higher rating from that date. The claim for increased rating for the left zygoma fracture was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral pleural scar with obstructive and restrictive pulmonary disease, COPD and chronic bronchitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a laryngectomy and stoma status post laryngectomy due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the ventral hernia, a separate 30 percent rating for painful or unstable surgical scars, and a TDIU effective March 13, 2022. The claims for increased ratings for diverticulitis and surgical scars under Diagnostic Code 7801 were denied.