Scars decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for left eye blindness with scarring as the evidence did not support an in-service injury or event that caused the condition.

The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance, as well as service connection and earlier effective dates for certain conditions, while denying increased ratings and earlier effective dates for others.

The appeals for service connection and initial rating were dismissed due to untimely filings of the necessary forms within one year after notification.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for residuals of a right hand injury, to include a scar, as it is unclear whether all STRs from Brawdy, Wales, RAB have been obtained and an examination has not yet been conducted.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a 70% rating for depressive disorder and bilateral foot disorders, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 30, 2019.

The Veteran's PFB is granted a greater 60 percent rating, while other conditions such as eczema scarring, erectile dysfunction, IBS, and migraine headaches are denied higher ratings. Service connection for stroke from burn pit exposure and damaged liver is also denied.

The appeal was dismissed for the proposed reduction of the evaluation rating, but service connection was granted for a left hip condition and its associated scar.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for total right hip arthropathy and service connection for a back disorder, to include a lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates prior to September 1, 2022 for the ratings of radiculopathy and a painful scar were denied as there was no evidence supporting an earlier date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for abdominal scars as they are not deep, do not have an area of at least 39 square centimeters, are not unstable or painful, and do not result in any disabling effects.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected nephropathy with hypertension, DM II, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, and CAD. However, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right-hand scar due to insufficient evidence of a current disability, and remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss for further development.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected left upper thigh scar.

The Board denied service connection for folliculitis, inguinal abscess, and other conditions, and remanded claims for rash, tinea cruris, and keloid scars. The 30 percent rating for acanthosis nigricans, diabetic dermopathy, and necrobiosis lipoidica was restored.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating, as well as an initial compensable rating for pelvic floor dysfunction.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance, finding that there was no formal claim or intent to file a claim for these benefits prior to August 1, 2020.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 1, 2022.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of a left leg scar due to an alleged in-service injury, as a VA examination was not conducted at the time of the initial denial.