Scars decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of his left knee strain and scars, finding that the earliest possible effective date was May 29, 2020, based on when he submitted a request to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The left knee strain and the painful and compensable Crohn's disease resection scars are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and initial rating of UDD due to continuous pursuit within one year after receipt of the original claim. The effective dates remain December 7, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for malignant neoplasm of the left breast and a compensable rating for residual scar from left breast mass removal, finding no current disability of either condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for scarring alopecia was granted with an effective date of December 19, 2008. The decision is based on newly discovered service treatment records.

The Veteran's left GSV venaseal and related scarring have been granted service connection with an effective date of January 14, 2020. The Board finds the appropriate effective date for the grant of a total 100 percent disability rating for CAD to be February 24, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbar spine scar was not granted a compensable rating due to the scar area being less than 929 cm².,Service connection for COPD and emphysema were granted based on exposure to burn pits and other toxins during service, as well as fine particulate matter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right hand conditions have been denied. The VA has determined that the current schedular ratings are not sufficient to compensate him for his disabilities.,Specifically, the Veteran's right (dominant) hand 5th finger proximal phalangeal fracture and swan neck deformity of the right (dominant) 4th finger do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under their respective diagnostic codes. The linear scars on his right 3rd and 4th fingers are also rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for his right ankle surgical scar, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected depression. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis, scars, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting an earlier date than April 22, 2014.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess the impact of his migraine headaches and scars on employment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings of depressive disorder and erectile dysfunction has been withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted, with a finding that it was related to service exposure. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied due to his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for scar, status post coronary artery bypass graft and service connection for sinusitis were denied. The Board found no current disabilities for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural issues, inadequate examination reports, and missing records. The VA will obtain new examinations and confirm all periods of INACDUTRA and ACDUTRA service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right breast cancer, bilateral skin sparing mastectomy, and left and right breast scarring due to a duty to assist error in obtaining a VA examination regarding potential exposure to contaminated water during active service.

The Board has restored service connection for a left knee scar associated with total left knee arthroplasty with residual limited ROM, pain and scar due to improper severance of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his left shoulder (minor) disability has been granted at a 30 percent level, effective from January 31, 2011. Separate ratings of 10 percent have also been granted for painful scars on the left shoulder. Temporary total disability ratings based on surgery convalescence have been granted multiple times during the appeal period.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for hyperpigmented scar of the scalp and painful scar of the scalp from 30% to 10%, and 10% to noncompensable, respectively.