Scars decisions — 2025

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection claims, finding no factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to the date of claim.

The Board remands the claims for increased disability evaluations for lumbosacral strain, sinusitis, and right lower extremity scars to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as of July 1, 2016.

The appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 30 percent for scars, and the claims for increased ratings for TBI and headaches, as well as service connection for seizures, were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's residuals of colon cancer and a scar due to colon cancer surgery, effective June 27, 2024, but denied earlier effective dates.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, a painful scar associated with a hernia disability, right foot pain of the 5th toe, an unspecified lesion, to include as secondary to right foot pain of the 5th toe, a left foot disability, tinnitus, and (residual(s) of) an upper respiratory infection.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a left eye injury, to include recurrent corneal erosion, and restored the 30 percent disability rating for the left lower eyelid scar.

The appeal for service connection for an eye disability and a bilateral hearing loss disability was withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and TDIU, as well as initial ratings in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea, a compensable rating for hypertension, and increased ratings for various other disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and back scar. The claims for asbestosis and sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board denied increased disability evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and scar, status-post left quadriceps tendon repair surgery, all currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial 10 percent disability rating for service-connected psychomotor epilepsy and denied increased, compensable ratings for a scar on the right forehead and service connection claims for sciatic nerve conditions in both lower extremities.

The Board denied an initial rating greater than 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, granted TDIU from January 8, 2020 to June 19, 2022, and granted DEA benefits effective the same date.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for service-connected painful scars from a gastritis surgery, finding that the Veteran has five painful scars during the entire appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than August 10, 2022, for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ and for an award of service connection for neoplasms of the male reproductive system, erectile dysfunction, and for an abdomen scar, post-prostatectomy.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for erectile dysfunction, right inguinal hernia, and scar -anterior trunk, abdomen (s/p right inguinal hernia repair), but granted a 10 percent rating for paresthesia -inferior maxillary fifth cranial nerve (now claimed as bruxism).

The Board granted service connection for residuals of melanoma of the left upper back and denied initial compensable ratings for a left upper back scar and a nose scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and a rating greater than 30 percent for service-connected right hip replacement with degenerative arthritis. The claim for a compensable rating for scar, status post right hip replacement was withdrawn.

The Veteran was granted a rating of 10 percent for scars associated with the left great toe, but no more, for the entire appeal period beginning October 30, 2012.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) and denied compensable ratings for chest scars, leg scars, and service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy secondary to CAD.