Scars decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the anterior neck scar and denied an effective date earlier than April 2, 2015, for the grant of service connection.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected scar on the left breast due to one painful scar, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his left wrist disability.

The Board granted service connection for facial scars, finding that the Veteran's current facial scars began during active service.

The Board remands the claims for higher disability evaluations for post pneumonia lung scarring and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as a TDIU claim, due to incomplete records from the Veteran's primary care physician and outstanding VA treatment records.

The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for constrictive bronchiolitis and lung scarring is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary surgical scars, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating under applicable criteria.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for sleep disturbances, a rating in excess of 30 percent for right nephrectomy, and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate for further development.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with sciatica of the legs, effective September 1, 2012. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and amputation of the distal right ring finger were denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for various shell fragment wound residuals, finding the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA, as there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran was unemployable prior to August 4, 2020, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for increased disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected conditions was dismissed due to a untimely Notice of Disagreement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for colon cancer residuals, to include post-surgical abdominal scar, as there was no evidence of symptomology that can be attributed to colon cancer.

The appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability was dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted in full.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his subtotal gastrectomy and associated scars, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's neck disability, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and painful neck scar status post GSW.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's painful left wrist and hip scars, but denied higher ratings for his left wrist navicular fracture status post-surgery and left hip status post bone graft.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, and denied increased ratings for right shoulder instability, allergic rhinitis, scars, status post right shoulder arthroscopy, and staph MRSA. A separate compensable rating for a neurological disability of the right upper extremity was remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for several conditions, granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and effective dates from July 15, 2020, for TDIU and DEA benefits, but denied earlier effective dates.

The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD, metastatic ovarian cancer, recto-sigmoid colon cancer, and status-post bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy from specific dates, while denying an increased rating for the latter two conditions after their respective effective dates.