Scars decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating for nephrolithiasis due to inadequate development of evidence, including failure to obtain relevant medical records and an adequate examination.

The Board remands the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 related to a heart catheter procedure, right upper extremity nerve damage, and a right upper extremity scar due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board granted an effective date of October 4, 2017, for the award of service connection for lumbar strain, lumbar lordosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, posterior lumbar scar status post lumbar spinal fusion, and painful back scar.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for sinusitis and GERD, but denied higher ratings for asthma, allergic rhinitis, left inguinal hernia, scar, fatigue, right shoulder, right wrist, bilateral leg, left shoulder, and left wrist disabilities.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for residuals of gallbladder surgery and a 10 percent rating for residual scar, status post gallbladder surgery. The tension headaches were denied as the maximum schedular rating was already in place.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence demonstrated its onset during active service and has been chronic since then. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including residuals of a laceration of the radial digital nerve, C-section scar, right index finger scar residuals, and bilateral lower extremity varicose veins.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for the service-connected psychiatric disability and denied earlier effective dates, initial ratings, and other claims.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the L rate based on the need for regular aid and attendance since November 1, 2017, but denied prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, and for compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, eczema, left and right lower extremity nerve disabilities, and scars of the head, face, or neck.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection as new and relevant evidence was not received to support readjudication of the claims.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability evaluation for migraine headaches and denied increased ratings for other conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with compression fracture L3, spondylosis L4, lumbar strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), among others.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to her service-connected fibromyalgia not meeting the criteria for precluding locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disorder, a left leg disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. However, it granted an initial rating of 20 percent for residuals of bladder cancer and 10 percent for a scar of the left lower quadrant.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and posterior scalp scarring, remanded the claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and dismissed the appeal seeking compensation for a skin condition.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran not demonstrating good cause for an untimely filing of a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year of notification of the February 2023 and March 2023 rating decisions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding no evidence of entitlement to an earlier date or higher ratings based on the facts found.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as a back scar, secondary to the Veteran's lumbosacral strain. The appeal challenging the propriety of the combined evaluation of 80 percent was denied.