Scars decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for cancer of the left breast, left parenchymal lung disease, removal of left breast lymph nodes, and left breast scars, all as secondary to the service-connected cancer of the left breast.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lip scar due to Stevens Johnson syndrome and a compensable rating for his left knee scar.

The Board denied service connection for allergies and shortness of breath, but granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches and a 20 percent rating for bilateral arthralgia of the temporomandibular joint.

The Board denied an effective date prior to June 18, 2014, for the grant of service connection for scars, prostate surgery, anterior trunk and denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for the service-connected residuals of prostate cancer. However, it granted an effective date of June 18, 2014, but no earlier, for the grant of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities but granted a 10 percent rating for a painful scar of the mid back and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings due to no evidence of entitlement prior to the date of claim, and the denial of service connection in previous rating decisions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for mood disorder and a compensable rating for scars, left hip and left shin (previously rated as bone graft, left fibula), and remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals, and the claims were dismissed.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as effective dates prior to June 23, 2021.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation at the (l) and (o) rates from August 12, 2013, based on his service-connected upper extremity rheumatoid arthritis. The back scar claim was also granted an effective date of August 12, 2013.

The Board remands the matter to correct pre-decisional errors in the AOJ's efforts to fulfill its duty to assist the appellant with the development of his claim.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the right hand scar from January 31, 2019, and denied other claims.

The Board granted an effective date of July 21, 2016, for the grants of service connection for a heart disability, chest scar, and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for facial scars due to a lack of evidence showing he currently has such scars.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a right hand scar to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands multiple issues, including service connection claims and rating increases for various disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, hypertension, erectile dysfunction as secondary to the service-connected conditions, and incontinence as secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer. The decision was based on the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service near the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

The Board granted an effective date of January 15, 2020, for the grant of service connection for PTSD and scars related to the left eyebrow and hand/forearm.