Scars decisions — 2025

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and benefits related to a left hip disorder, special monthly compensation, DEA benefits, and an initial rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension, epigastric hernia, and epigastric hernia repair scar.

The Board denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including adjustment disorder with anxiety, right ear hearing loss, and hip disorders, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) with residual scarring as the evidence did not support a finding that his condition affected at least 5% of his body or exposed areas, and no more than topical therapy was required.

The Board denied initial compensable disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left upper chest scarring with keloid formation status-post pacemaker placement, right knee surgical scar status post total knee arthroplasty (TKA), surgical abdominal scar, and gunshot wound scar to the left leg and thigh. The appeal seeking service connection for ischemic heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, erectile dysfunction, a left shoulder condition, and a neck condition, as well as an earlier effective date claim regarding PTSD. The claims for carpal tunnel syndrome and shin splints were denied, while other claims were remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for a scar, status-post laminectomy, and denied increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities prior to January 4, 2022. However, it granted a 20% evaluation from that date for both conditions.

The Board denied the appeal regarding the reduction of the Veteran's rating for painful scars from 10 percent to noncompensable, effective August 20, 2022 under DC 7804.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a torn deltoid muscle of the left arm and denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for the period prior to June 16, 2008.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a right shin scar, dismissed the claim for a right foot condition, denied the claim for a right shoulder condition, and remanded claims for back, bilateral hearing loss, stomach problems, sleep apnea, right leg pain, and left knee conditions.

The appeal for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia disorder was dismissed, and the Board granted an initial disability evaluation of 20 percent for the right foot disability.

The Board remands the claim for an eye disorder, including retinitis and corneal scars, to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the condition in relation to service, including exposure to burn pits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee and ankle conditions, as well as scars, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable evaluation for posterior trunk residual scars based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the restoration of a 30 percent evaluation for a post-operative bilateral inguinal hernia and granted a 10 percent rating for migraine headaches, while denying increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various hip and knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for facial scarring as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected facial acne.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for both his right foot metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint scar and status post ventral hernia repair, as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected scarring of the anterior neck, but not higher.

The Board denied an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for a painful laparoscopic abdominal scar and remanded the claim for service connection for ventral hernia secondary to the scar.