Scars decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date than January 2, 2024, for the award of entitlement to service connection for a scar of the left third finger.

The Board denied service connection for an anxiety disorder, right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and scar(s) of the neck. The rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain was also denied.

The Board remands the claims for a comprehensive examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral upper extremity neurological disabilities and left elbow scar.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, resolving any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for both his neck surgical scar and psoriasis, as neither condition met the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board granted increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and restored a 10 percent rating for a painful scar. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent evaluation for TBI with BPPV and memory loss effective from April 9, 2021, to June 22, 2021, and Chapter 35 DEA benefits for the same period. The grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied an earlier effective date.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back condition and granted a 10 percent rating for residuals of pilonidal cyst removal, to include scar.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left-hand condition, dorsal and palm scars, and nerve damage on the finger of the left hand due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and TDIU, finding that April 16, 2021 was the earliest possible date based on the receipt of a complete supplemental claim.

The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating for service-connected right upper extremity scars due to unclear evidence regarding the number and pain of the Veteran's scars.

The Veteran withdrew the entire appeal, and all issues were dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an initial compensable rating for tension headaches. Several claims were remanded for further development.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for multiple conditions, including hearing loss, facial scars, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, skin condition, sleep apnea, and various musculoskeletal issues.

The appeal of proposed actions to sever service connection for multiple scars, status post excision of skin cancer, and to reduce the assigned disability rating from 100 percent to 30 precent for multiple basal cell carcinomas was dismissed. The appeal of issues for initial higher ratings for hypertension, PTSD, gastroesophageal reflux disorder with diverticulitis, and anemia, and issues for service connection for Parkinson's like symptoms, peripheral neuropathy in the lower and upper extremities, and low back disability were also dismissed.

The Board granted an effective date of May 10, 1989, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and dismissed the claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a burn scar on the left hand, as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for chest scars and headaches, but denied service connection for tinnitus, PTSD to include depression and anxiety condition, left shin splints, right shin splints, left shoulder strain, right shoulder disability, bilateral foot condition, right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar strain, and cervical strain.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for scars, right lower leg, a left arm disability, and a right arm disability due to prohibited concurrent elections under the modernized review system.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.