Scars decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left Achilles tendonitis/tendon rupture and a 10 percent rating for the left Achilles tendon repair scar, effective August 8, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for various disabilities, including erectile dysfunction as a complication of type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected shrapnel wounds and granted separate initial 10 percent ratings for painful scars on both lower extremities.

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

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection and higher ratings due to untimely notices of disagreement and failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The Board reinstated the 100% rating for service-connected colon cancer and granted special monthly compensation at the rate authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s), effective February 1, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for readjudication and further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions to address the severity of the appellant's service-connected disabilities and associated symptoms over time.

The Board granted service connection for head scars and denied increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis, right ankle disability, and PTSD with TBI and vertigo.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for increased ratings and compensable ratings for various left knee conditions, including osteoarthritis, internal derangement, meniscal tear, painful scars, and post arthroscopic surgery scars.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for renal cell carcinoma and granted a 10 percent rating for scars. The Board also denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for posttraumatic arthritis, right ankle.

The Board denied the claims for a compensable rating and an increased rating for scars, and remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and for service connection for a right hip condition.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for macular scarring of the left eye with macular edema and maculopathy of the right eye, effective August 24, 2023.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for compensation related to miscarriages/stillborn births, as he understood there was no available benefit.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for status post ventral hernioplasty but denied higher initial and compensable ratings for the painful, stable linear scar to midline supraumbilical status post hernioplasty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, painful scar status post left IHR, and left knee strain.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spondylolisthesis and bilateral ankle dermatitis, restored the ratings for left knee limitation of extension, left ankle degenerative joint disease (DJD), and right ankle DJD, and denied service connection for sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a right 5th finger scar, increased ratings for left knee flexion and extension, and rhinitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lung tumor resulting in right partial lobectomy and surgical scars as secondary to this condition due to duty-to-assist errors, including an inadequate VA opinion and unverified asbestos exposure.

The Board granted service connection for insomnia and remanded claims for further development.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer (secondary to GERD and Barrett's esophagus), and surgical scars from an esophagectomy (secondary to the now service-connected esophageal cancer).

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