Scars decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee, back, tinnitus, and hearing loss, did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from April 21, 2021 to April 21, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history. A total disability rating for compensation due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, gunshot wound residuals, lumbar spine issues, hypothyroidism, sciatica, hypertension, scars, and other conditions. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him incapable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation as of January 8, 2015.,Effective January 8, 2015, the Veteran is eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance due to his permanent total disability status.

The Board has determined that the VA decision denying enrollment in the PCAFC program was not based on a proper application of the law and regulations, specifically regarding the definition of 'supervision, protection, or instruction' under 38 C.F.R. § 71.15. The Board therefore remands the case for further action.

The Veteran's heel spur, left foot, is rated at 30% from August 24, 2021.,His hallux valgus (bunion), left great toe, status post bunionectomy with degenerative joint disease, remains rated at 10%. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the case to address a CUE motion regarding a September 19, 1995 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and a higher disability rating were dismissed due to concurrent elections.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) and potential burn pit exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and ratings have been dismissed due to procedural deficiencies in the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) filed by his representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lung disorders, specifically those related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The VA is required to obtain a new retrospective opinion from an appropriate clinician or other qualified examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residual bilateral arm shrapnel wound scars is granted. The claim for skin disability (claimed as rash and skin lesions of the face, head, and body) is denied. The claims for right foot disability and RLE neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's lentigine of the head, face, and neck resulted in four characteristics of disfigurement from September 21, 2017 to April 13, 2025, warranting a 50% rating. The Veteran's keloid scars of the chest were painful at least 5 out of 6 times over the past year, resulting in a 30% rating from September 21, 2017 to April 13, 2025.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The effective dates for earlier connection claims remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for dermatitis and a residual penile scar due to a skin reaction to concrete is remanded. The case will be reviewed with the addition of recent evidence, including VA examination reports and service treatment records.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent disability rating for IBS is granted. The issues of increased disability ratings for various hand and hip conditions are withdrawn.

The Board granted service connection for varicose veins, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction status post coronary artery bypass graft, non-painful chest scar, iron deficiency anemia status post internal bleeding, and PTSD. The effective dates were set based on the date of receipt of claims or other relevant information.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an effective date prior to August 17, 2022, for his service connection awards due to lack of a formal or informal claim before that date. For the right groin scar, the Veteran's rating remains at 10 percent as there is no evidence of instability or pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure have been granted. Service connection for vasectomy scar residuals is denied.

The appeal for service connection for a heart disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right knee disability, right hip disability, low back disability, scar of the lower lip, scars associated with a heart disability, and scars associated with a low back disability is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are denied.