Scars decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial increased rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's scar, lumbosacral spine and remanded other issues due to a need for further development.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and a new VA opinion addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding service connection.

The Board granted service connection for a right wrist disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The claims for a right knee disability, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition were denied.

The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for spondylolisthesis, right leg radiculopathy, posterior trunk scars, painful scar, posterior midline spine, and anterior trunk scar.

The Board remands the claim for a compensable disability rating for the service-connected scars of the left hip due to an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to June 11, 2012, for the award of a 10 percent rating for scar, dorsal aspect of right hand was dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae and scar, posterior scalp as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board granted service connection for pruritus of the bilateral forearms and squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinomas of the head and face, status post excision, residual scars of right jaw and left cheek (claimed as squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinomas of the head and face, seborrheic keratoses: face and scalp), but denied a compensable evaluation for the latter condition from August 10, 2022.

The Board denied ratings greater than 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy, knee strain, status post osteotomy of right second metatarsal, and surgical scars due to a finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, as well as housebound status.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, except for a 20 percent rating granted for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy femoral nerve.

The Board denied service connection for face and neck scars, left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), but granted a 10 percent rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory condition and a condition manifested by bilateral shin pain.

The Board remands the claims for the restoration of disability ratings for a right hand scar and hypertension, as the AOJ did not address the correct issues in its decision.

The appeal seeking service connection for PTSD, TBI, and facial scarring was dismissed due to the Veteran's failure to file a timely notice of disagreement within one year of the December 2013 rating decision.

The Board granted a rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected scar fibrosis of skin, effective December 4, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The Board also denied increased ratings for appendectomy scars and residuals of an appendectomy.

The Board granted service connection for right inguinal hernia scars and remanded claims related to hearing loss, GERD, hand arthritis, left ankle, and back disabilities. All other claims were denied.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for increased ratings of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including neuralgia of the right fifth cranial nerve, scarring of the right lateral face, and a separate 10 percent evaluation for painful scarring, all effective March 6, 2019. The decision also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from March 6, 2019.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various service-connected conditions, including frostbite residuals of the upper and lower extremities, left hip strain, tinnitus, depressive and alcohol use disorders, radiculopathy, anosmia, right upper eyelid scar, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral strain.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues, and the Board dismissed the case.