Scars decisions — 2026

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate (SMC) from August 3, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful occupation prior to April 25, 2022. The Board is remanding the claims for TDIU as well as service connection for diverticulitis, peptic ulcer, and RLS.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left breast cancer and associated residual partial mastectomy and lymph node sampling scars, finding that these conditions are related to her active duty service from June 2010 to July 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for the evaluation of his service-connected left ankle scar and abdominal scar is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been restored to a 50% evaluation effective September 24, 2024. His ischemic heart disease and other conditions have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids have resulted in persistent bleeding, and he has been in receipt of the maximum schedular rating available for the condition.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction has not been productive of penile deformity.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's legacy appeals regarding increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and scar issues due to a mistake in classification of the appeal as a legacy appeal instead of an AMA review system.

The Veteran's left knee scars are granted a separate rating, and the right foot disability is granted increased ratings with specific periods of temporary total ratings. The effective date for service connection for certain disabilities is also established.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, with some issues receiving initial ratings and others being denied or remanded for further review.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted prior to February 13, 2003. The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also granted as of the same date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected DVT contributed to his death from intracranial hemorrhage. The appellant submitted evidence suggesting warfarin use increased the risk of intracranial hemorrhage.

The Board found that the evidence did not show an actual improvement in the Veteran's conditions, and thus denied the reduction requests for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right deltoid region scar, sinusitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The right deltoid region scar is rated at 10 percent effective September 28, 2024. The initial compensable rating for sinusitis has been granted with an effective date of May 20, 2023. The initial 70 percent rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted with an effective date of May 20, 2024.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions and a rating for hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, sinusitis, acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee scar, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder disability, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected mitral valve replacement with pericarditis, anemia, and scars contributed to her death from ventricular fibrillation. The Board finds that the heart disability caused or substantially contributed to the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of January 1, 2025. The Board granted the TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates on several conditions, including scars, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted a higher level of SMC at the rate payable under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t) for the Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals, finding that they require a 'higher level of care' and necessitate nursing home care without regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the character of the Appellant's discharge is a bar to VA benefits, and thus did not address his service connection claims. The case is being remanded for the AOJ to obtain missing records related to the special court-martial and complete a new determination on the character of the discharge.