Scars decisions — 2026

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a VA scar examination due to conflicting findings from previous examinations.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from August 6, 2008 due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 13, 2024 for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity above-knee amputation and its associated scar. The Veteran's initial rating for right lower extremity above-knee amputation is denied.

The Veteran's service connection for other trauma and stressor related disorder is granted with an effective date of June 16, 2020. The rating assigned is 50 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a residual scar on his head due to a surgical procedure for nodular basal cell carcinoma is granted, as the condition can be considered incurred in or aggravated during active military service under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension, left knee flexion limitation, and instability of the left knee are all rated at their maximum allowable under VA regulations. The right knee scar is not compensable. The Board has remanded for further examination to determine the severity of these conditions without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and mid-chest incisional scar are service-connected as secondary to his time in service, specifically related to aortic aneurysm and heart valve replacement.,Tinnitus is service-connected based on the Veteran's reported history of noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected surgical neck scars are rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective August 10, 2022. The Board found that the evidence supported granting this initial rating due to pain and tenderness of the scars.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for left knee scars, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation as the combined area of the Veteran's scars was less than the required threshold for a 10% rating.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for painful left knee scars is granted at a 20 percent level, but no higher.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with a 50% rating assigned for migraine headaches. The appeals for gynecological scars and peripheral artery disorder of the left arm are also granted due to new evidence submitted. Service connection for cardiovascular disorder, breast cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Veteran's initial rating for neuropathic pain and distal nerve damage of the left great toe was granted at 10 percent, but a higher rating of 20 percent is now granted from April 19, 2021 to November 10, 2021. The scar of the left great toe remains rated at 0 percent and the abscess and ingrown toenail status post-surgical correction is rated at 10 percent.

The Board dismissed the appeals for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to untimely filing of a VA Form 10182, which was not docketed as it did not provide enough information on the issues he wished to appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed as untimely.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted effective dates of December 31, 2020 for the award of service connection for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with congestive heart failure and coronary artery bypass graft and associated bypass surgical scars, anterior trunk.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been dismissed due to procedural defects.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for pelvic inflammatory disease has also been dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle instability and secondary service connection for a right ankle scar. The decision also readjudicates the claim of service connection for the right ankle scar.