Scars decisions — 2025

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings to ensure compliance with prior remand directives, including obtaining new examinations and opinions.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and remanded additional service connection claims due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied a disability rating greater than 10 percent for the service-connected traumatic hallux valgus of the left foot status post failed corrective surgery and bunionectomy with scar, as the maximum rating allowed was already assigned.

The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for facial scars prior to April 29, 2022, and a separate compensable disability rating for scar disfigurement prior to April 29, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, as the earliest possible date under applicable law is October 24, 2019.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including post-traumatic headaches, scarring on the head, left ankle strain, PTSD with TBI, and other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable rating and earlier effective date for a posterior trunk surgical scar due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board granted a rating of 60 percent for left total knee replacement (TKR) from August 1, 2023, but denied an initial compensable rating for the surgical scars associated with the TKR.

The Board granted an effective date of August 15, 2011, for the award of service connection for peritoneal adhesions and associated scar of the mid-abdomen but denied earlier effective dates for a seizure disorder and DEA benefits. A rating of 30 percent was also granted for peritoneal adhesions.

The Board granted an effective date of March 17, 2020 for service connection and initial disability ratings for left hip strain, but denied earlier effective dates and a TDIU.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied an increased rating for the unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a skin disorder, to include pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and/or residual scarring/disfigurement, as further development is necessary.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's scar area, status post excisions, bilateral post-auricular region, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an initial compensable rating for scars of the head, face, or neck.

The Board granted service connection for scars status post (s/p) prostatectomy and denied a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction. The claims for increased ratings for prostate cancer s/p prostatectomy and additional ratings for residuals of prostate cancer status s/p prostatectomy were remanded.

The Board remands the case to obtain a retrospective medical opinion on the extent that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities affect his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues for further development.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of May 18, 2017, for the grant of service connection for painful post inflammatory scarring of the bilateral lower extremities, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity, secondary to infectious folliculitis.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder, and hypertension as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder. It also granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder from May 1, 2023, and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board granted the Veteran's appeal as the higher-level review (HLR) request received in July 2021 was timely.