Scars decisions — 2026

The Board denied a 10 percent rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities, finding that the conditions did not clearly interfere with the Veteran's employability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of May 28, 2009, and no earlier, for the award of a 40 percent rating for back disability is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residual laminectomy scar associated with his back disability is also granted.

Service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted.,Readjudication of the claims for service connection for a right wrist scar and a right wrist muscle injury are warranted.

The Veteran's painful scar of the left hand is granted a 10 percent rating, effective from May 4, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and for loss of teeth. The anterior trunk scar is rated at 10 percent, but no higher.

The Veteran's face and neck scarring, associated with service-connected Post-Facial Burn (PFB), has not been characterized by disfigurement or other disabling effects. As a result, the claim for a compensable rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete records, including a lack of color photographs of his scars. The claims are being returned to the agency that made the initial decision.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings were denied.,The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 19, 2019, is moot.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion, and thus, further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran qualifies for PCAFC benefits.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right knee posttraumatic arthritis and left eye supraorbital nerve damage associated with a left eyebrow scar have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disorder, cyst scars, and left foot corn rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 24, 2009. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, either alone or in combination, did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education, training, and experience for the appeal period prior to May 4, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including metabolic myopathy with bladder disability rated at 60 percent disabling since January 16, 2008, and cerebrovascular accident rated at 100 percent disabling from August 23, 2017 through March 1, 2018, have not rendered him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected scars s/p gunshot wound, right buttock was denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of sigmoid polyp with diverticulitis and related conditions (including cholecystectomy) is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar laminectomy scar is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's lower back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 10 percent each. The VA examinations were inadequate to rate these disabilities accurately.

The Board denied service connection for deviated septum, bilateral shin scars, and hemorrhoids as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative lumbar arthritis and injuries to his lower extremities, result in the loss of use of both lower extremities such that he is unable to effectively ambulate independently without assistive devices. This meets the criteria for specially adapted housing eligibility.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).