Scars decisions — 2026

The Veteran's left inguinal hernia scars are currently rated at a noncompensable level, but the Board has granted a 20 percent rating for painful scars under Diagnostic Code 7804. The decision also notes that there is no evidence of instability or additional pain contributing to an even higher rating.

The Veteran's lymphoma and scar have been granted effective dates of August 23, 2018. The Veteran is service-connected for his lymphoma with an initial noncompensable rating, and the RO has not assigned a compensable rating for his scar.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 7, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for initial evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other disabilities did not result in a combined rating of at least 100% for a continuous period of eight years immediately preceding his death, thus denying the claim for enhanced DIC benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left and right knee conditions, as well as his service-connected left and right knee scars. The AOJ will need to correct duty-to-assist errors by obtaining new VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease, lumbar spine disability, and arteriosclerotic heart disease, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU and established basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance prior to May 1, 2025.

The Veteran's left shoulder scars are not service-connected and do not warrant a compensable disability rating.,The Veteran's left foot neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum available under current criteria. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Service connection for brain damage, lumbar spine disability, or right leg disability (deep vein thrombosis) has not been established by the evidence of record.,The Veteran's service records do not indicate any incidents related to burn pits, Agent Orange exposure, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions. Therefore, no specific exposure basis can be determined.,No new and material evidence has been submitted for brain damage, lumbar spine disability, or right leg disability (deep vein thrombosis).,The Veteran's service records do not indicate any incidents related to burn pits, Agent Orange exposure, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions. Therefore, no specific exposure basis can be determined.,,None of the issues have a clear and convincing evidence that supports their resolution in favor of the Veteran.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, effective May 22, 2023.,Effective May 22, 2023, service connection for right total hip replacement and related conditions are granted.,An earlier effective date of May 22, 2023, but no earlier, is granted for the grant of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.,Effective May 22, 2023, service connection for recurrent tinnitus is granted.,Effective May 22, 2023, service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis is granted.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been presented to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for a back condition, left shoulder condition, scars (of the head, face, neck), skin condition of bilateral hands, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The AOJ is directed to consider this new evidence in their subsequent adjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate previous examinations and for an addendum opinion regarding bilateral dry eye syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his GERD, allergic rhinitis, IVDS, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment from at least August 9, 2017, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, increased rating for left knee degenerative joint disease, and increased rating for left knee scar due to a failure to make reasonable efforts in obtaining relevant non-federal treatment records prior to rendering the decision on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee scar have been rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines, but his low back disability remains unresolved.,VA has determined that a compensable rating for the left knee scar is not warranted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee scar have been rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines, but his low back disability remains unresolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to bilateral foot condition, low back condition, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome scars. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, and a TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left leg scar, right leg scar, and scars on right arm due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims for astigmatism, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and other scars are not granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability, is rated at 20 percent and no higher.,A separate 10 percent rating for patellar instability is granted.,Compensable ratings are assigned for the ventral hernia, bilateral hearing loss, recurrent episcleritis with surface ocular inflammation, scarring due to genital warts and treatment of genital warts, residual scars s/p ventral hernia laparoscopic surgery, and left wrist sprain with degenerative arthritis and residual pain from old wrist fracture.