Scars decisions — 2025

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 16, 2022, for service connection for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with residual scars.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, chin laceration and scar, left hand condition, and right hand condition. The claims for headaches, acid reflux, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disability, and a right knee disability were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of TDIU during the period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, shortness of breath, an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis, and an initial compensable disability rating for smallpox scar. The acne claim was remanded.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's status post exploratory laparoscopic right salpingo oophorectomy for a right ovarian cyst, as the symptoms require continuous treatment.

The Board granted an effective date of December 8, 2021, for the grant of a separate 10 percent rating for painful scar, left femoral/groin.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's bunionectomy scars and remanded several issues related to her foot disabilities.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for further development, specifically to obtain outstanding VA medical treatment records since July 2022.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to missing evidence from the Social Security Administration.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for chest scars and a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The claims for service connection for a lung disorder other than spontaneous right pneumothorax and recurrent, spontaneous right pneumothorax were remanded.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's abdominal scar disability from July 15, 2009, to May 20, 2015, and denied a higher rating thereafter.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for painful keloid scars and keloid scars of the anterior trunk, left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and posterior trunk, each effective September 14, 1976. The Board also denied a higher rating for peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity.

The Board granted service connection for a right hand strain and a scar on the right index finger, both stemming from an injury incurred during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board denied service connection for a lump in the right groin inguinal area but granted it for a left leg laceration scar. Other claims were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines and left hand scar preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, granting a TDIU beginning August 28, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for rectal scarring, rash, and discomfort due to an in-service sexual assault. The claims for other conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but denied increased ratings for residuals of right arm/shoulder shell fragment wound and right upper eyelid and right nostril laceration scars, and remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD and GERD, remanded claims related to degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left shoulder strain, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's disease, self-inflicted scarring, dystonia, and TDIU.

The Board denied a compensable rating for ventral hernia and remanded claims for service connection for depression, increased rating for panulcerative colitis with resection of large intestines, and a compensable rating for abdominal scars.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for varicose veins in her left leg and a compensable evaluation for residual scars of the left lower extremity associated with varicose veins.