Scars decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer, painful and unstable residual scars, residual scars, large residual scars, and entitlement to SMC based on housebound status was granted with an effective date of June 26, 2019.,The Board found that the Veteran's colon cancer is related to his service without the liberalizing PACT Act.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability, including his status post fusion with residual scars, is related to service. However, due to an inadequate examination and review of medical history, the case is being remanded for a new examination.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all pending appeals due to his current 100% P&T status effective June 20, 2024.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left Achilles tendonitis and residual scars subsequent to left Achilles tendon repair were denied by the Board. The decision is binding only with respect to these specific matters.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC eligibility was denied due to the CEAT finding that he did not require personal care services based on his service-connected conditions. The Board has ordered remand to obtain an adequate medical opinion from the CEAT regarding the Veteran's need for personal care and supervision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates prior to July 27, 2023, are not warranted as the issues were not reasonably raised before that date.

The Board has found that VA did not obtain all relevant Social Security Administration records, which may contain pertinent medical evidence. The case is therefore being remanded to allow for the retrieval of these records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee and right hip replacements, as well as his initial compensable ratings for scarring from melanoma and basal cell skin cancer, have all been denied. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for sleep apnea was denied, and his claim for TDIU was granted. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's pancreatitis with cholangitis status-post cholecystectomy is rated at 10 percent, effective the date of her claim.,The Veteran's two anterior trunk surgical scars (keloid scars) are rated at 10 percent, effective the date of her claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, a left forehead scar as secondary to PTSD with TBI, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension have all been granted. These conditions are presumed related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Vietnam.,The Veteran served in Vietnam from November 1967 to November 1971, where he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) as an Aviation Supply Clerk. His service is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran is already receiving TDIU benefits from November 17, 2015. The Board finds that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to March 21, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's appendectomy scar was aggravated by Agent Orange exposure or asbestos exposure during service. The appellant must be provided with a VA opinion to address these theories of aggravation.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected neck scar, granting only a separate non-compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7800.

The Veteran's claims for painful scar, right arm AV fistula for hemodialysis access and scar, right arm AV fistula for hemodialysis access have been granted with effective dates of April 18, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hypertensive retinopathy has been granted with an effective date of June 9, 2015. The Board found that the earliest diagnosis was on this date and thus is the effective date.,The Veteran's claim for cerebellar stroke has been granted with an effective date of March 18, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) secondary to PTSD was denied, and her request for an increased rating for Laparoscopy with Pelvic Pain disability was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left lower extremity painful/unstable scars and left leg exertional compartment syndrome are being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and left ankle disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation starting from April 4, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scars of the right hand and wrist, right little finger degenerative arthritis, and erectile dysfunction are all denied.,There is no evidence to support a compensable rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including chronic hypertensive kidney disease with hypertension, sleep apnea, pes planus, gout, a right eye scar, hemorrhoids, and erectile dysfunction.