Scars decisions — 2025

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected colon cancer, neuropathy of both lower extremities, and residual scars status post colon cancer.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and a compensable rating for tinnitus, but granted service connection for a right testicular condition secondary to the Veteran's status post inguinal hernia repair.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for corneal abrasion of the right eye, hemorrhoids, and hypertension. A 10 percent rating was granted for scar, buttocks, residual of pilonidal cyst.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for tinnitus, back scar, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy. However, a 50 percent rating was granted for the right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for right lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, and for right ear hearing loss. The Board also granted initial ratings of 10 percent for a right big toe scar and 20 percent for residuals of a right foot injury with recurrent ingrown toenail infections.

The Board remands the claims for a lumbar spine disability, left clavicle disability, scar of the left clavicle, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (skin) disability, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability, scars from an operation on the lower back as secondary to a lower back condition, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to a lower back disability due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection and an earlier effective date to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for issuance of a statement of the case under the legacy appeal system.

The Board granted service connection for a respiratory disability but dismissed appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various other conditions.

The Board granted a reinstatement of the 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability, effective November 1, 2022. The Board also granted an increased evaluation to 20 percent for left hand radial digital nerve impairment based on moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, PTSD with TBI, chronic lumbar sprain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and scars.

The appeal for service connection and effective date issues was dismissed as the claims were addressed by a separate decision.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis and recurrent left biceps tendon rupture residuals, assigned a 10 percent rating for inguinal hernia residuals, and remanded several other claims.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for a left arm ruptured distal bicep and a compensable rating for a left arm scar, status-post operative left biceps tendon repair.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for left foot traumatic arthritis prior to June 27, 2023, and denied an increased rating in excess of 30 percent. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's painful left hip scar based on it being one of three service-connected painful scars.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board denied service connection for neurological impairment of the left lower extremity, and denied earlier effective dates for multiple service-connected conditions. The claims for increased evaluations were also denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right thumb pain, right ring finger pain, lipoma scars, lumbar strain with spondylolisthesis, and non-compensable disabilities. However, it granted a 40% rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy with restless leg syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for embolism, denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residual scars status post left oophorectomy and right ovarian cystectomy, and denied increased ratings for various knee conditions and radiculopathy. The TDIU issue was dismissed as moot.