Scars decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings did not accurately reflect the level of severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for intestinal cancer, liver cancer, and a liver biopsy surgical scar as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected intestinal cancer.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain, including a labral tear status post-surgery, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral corneal scars are granted as service-connected. The restoration of the 60% disability rating for dermatitis is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not worsen to the extent that she was precluded from performing her job duties, and her occupation for which she was previously rehabilitated is still suitable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% and cannot be increased.,SMC at the housebound rate is granted from January 11, 2021 due to multiple service-connected disabilities.,A TDIU rating effective October 28, 2011 is granted based on inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to migraine headaches.,Eligibility for DEA benefits is granted but no earlier than the date of claim (April 5, 1999).

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for prostatectomy scars was denied as the evidence did not show that his scars met the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 1, 2024, for the establishment of service connection for residuals of prostate cancer was also denied because he did not file a formal or informal service connection claim before that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee scar, skin disability, and traumatic brain injury. The claim of service connection for a back disability is remanded due to failure to obtain a VA medical opinion.

The Board denied the Appellant's requests for earlier effective dates for his service connection for bilateral pes planus and gynecomastia scar residuals, finding that the earliest possible effective dates are the dates of receipt of the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the AOJ failing to schedule an informal conference as required by regulation.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating, compensable rating, and extension of temporary total evaluation for his lumbar spine disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing all claims in April 2022.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for diabetes mellitus type II from June 20, 2020. The right ankle scar claim is remanded due to the Veteran's failure to report for a scheduled examination. The GERD secondary to diabetes mellitus claim and TDIU issue are also remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence for a schedular rating, and the issues are inextricably intertwined.

Left hand pain and right hand pain have been dismissed as the issues were resolved in a separate March 2026 decision.,Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis has been granted, but left hand pain and right hand pain remain pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable evaluation for her bilateral eye disorder and has remanded her claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and left hip disorders.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for the scar of the left knee and remanded the claims for increased ratings for the left ankle disability and TDIU. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's injuries and conditions are not service-connected due to lack of a nexus between his current condition and active duty.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the injuries is denied.

The Board denied service connection for treatment purposes only under Chapter 17 for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, right upper extremity nerve condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, headache condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral pes planus, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which include stressor related disorder, prostate cancer residuals, surgical scar, and erectile dysfunction. The combined disability rating is at least 80 percent.