Scars decisions — 2026

The Board has restored service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and posterior trunk scars, as these conditions were in effect for over 10 years when they were severed. The original grants of service connection were not based on fraud or due to a character of discharge issue.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a compensable rating for s/p pilonidal cyst removal, posterior trunk and an increased rating for painful scar. The Board dismissed these issues as withdrawn.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's August 2018 Notice of Disagreement and additional private medical treatment records under the Legacy system, as these may impact the pending AMA claims currently before the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased initial ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae and facial scarring due to a failure to provide an examination during a flare-up, which could affect the severity assessment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions necessitate the need for regular aid and assistance of another individual to perform his activities of daily living, including toileting, bathing, showering, dressing, ambulating within the home or living area, transferring, medication management, cleaning, and feeding himself. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for his daily needs, requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board granted entitlement to SMC benefits based on the need for aid and attendance but dismissed the claim for SMC at the housebound rate as moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was granted with an effective date of June 9, 2021. A 100% rating for PTSD is granted from January 8, 2021 to July 11, 2023. Effective date of January 8, 2021 for DEA benefits and a new effective date for SMC is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a residual rib injury with painful scar tissue is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed condition.

The Veteran's lung scarring is related to in-service asbestos exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, Parkinson's disease, and a lung condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's military service.,Service connection was also denied for schizophrenia and right and left foot conditions.

The Board denied service connection for acne and facial scars, finding that the Veteran did not meet his burden of showing an in-service aggravation of preexisting conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than July 25, 2024, for various service-connected disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty status error from April 29, 2007 to March 17, 2013. The Veteran's duty status needs to be verified and active pay information should also be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hammer toe and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as the increased rating for a right eye disability. The Veteran's rhinitis, acne, right little finger disability, and right hand scar disabilities are all rated at their maximum allowable under current criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded his claims regarding a right elbow scar.

The appeal as to the reduction in the rating of mild restrictive lung disease from 10 percent to noncompensable effective February 19, 2022 is dismissed.,An initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scars associated with gallbladder removal with IBS is denied. The Veteran's claim was already pending and the appeal is not considered valid as it does not meet the criteria for an effective date earlier than October 22, 2021.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scars associated with gallbladder removal with IBS is denied. The scars are not both painful and unstable and do not cover an area of at least 144 square inches (929 square centimeters).,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 100 percent for schizophrenia, paranoid type, is denied as the Veteran has been assigned the maximum disability rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 9201.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 18, 2023 for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is granted. The evidence shows that the Veteran required regular aid and attendance due to his Parkinson's disease and related conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for hernia and increased rating for scar of the right hip due to untimely filing requests.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for facial scarring, left and right foot disabilities, left and right ankle disabilities, left knee, left hip, and left shoulder disabilities, as well as left and right wrist disabilities. The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the service connection of right knee instability, symptomatic meniscal condition, and scars as of July 26, 2017.