Scars decisions — 2026

The Board dismissed the appeals of claims for higher ratings for temporomandibular disorder and loss of teeth, as well as claims for service connection for scars on the left and right hips. The claim for an initial compensable rating for paresthesia of the midline to lower right jaw is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation of scars, right knee and service connection for sleep apnea. The scar claim was denied due to the scar not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7802. The sleep apnea claim was denied as there is no evidence that it began during active service or is related to an in-service injury or disease, including participation in a toxic exposure risk activity.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC eligibility was remanded due to a lack of proper notification and assessment. The Board found the Veteran meets the criteria for serious injury under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition, and lumbar spine condition has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition (colitis), scarring of the right hand pinky finger, scarring of the right hand thumb, and tendon damage of the left thumb have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for lupus, increased disability ratings for Tourette's syndrome, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and a right upper extremity scar. The Veteran was not provided notice of his right to a hearing on these supplemental claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure to provide notice of his right to a hearing on a supplemental claim. The AOJ must correct this error by providing the Veteran with such notice.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected right knee scar was withdrawn by the Veteran and his authorized representative.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for migraine headaches, service connection for a lower back condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee condition, service connection for a right hip condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee condition, and service connection for a right lower extremity nerve condition as secondary to the Veteran's claimed lower back condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for compartment syndrome of the bilateral lower extremities, reduced the rating for painful scars of the bilateral lower extremities, and denied service connection for various conditions. The decision was not timely filed.

The appeal for a respiratory disorder is dismissed. Service connection for right hand palmar nodule and service connection for a right hand scar are granted, but the issue of service connection for a right hand disorder other than service-connected right hand palmar nodule is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions. The Board has remanded several of these claims due to new evidence received after the September 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Loss of Use of Both Feet with Sciatic and Femoral Nerve Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, have resulted in the permanent loss of use of both feet. The Board has determined that this meets the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's claims for right upper arm nerve pain, left upper arm nerve pain and residuals of cervical corpectomy with discectomy/fusion were granted effective July 19, 2021. The Veteran is now rated at 30% for each condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for sinusitis, entitlement to TDIU, and increased ratings for head and neck scars and right arm scars due to procedural deficiencies.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under any applicable VA rating criteria, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's LLE scar rating from 10 percent to noncompensable effective August 16, 2024 was proper due to improvement in the disability. The claim for restoration of the prior 10 percent rating is denied.

The appeal for service connection for alopecia areata is dismissed. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral dry eye syndrome with vision impairment scars are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected posterior trunk scar, status post excision of malignant melanoma, is rated as noncompensable and denied an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for service-connected varicocele with organic oligospermia and left lower abdominal scars have been denied.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the painful scar has also been denied. The Veteran's hemorrhoids claim was dismissed due to failure to timely file a VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, total right and left knee replacements, tinnitus, degenerative disc disease with spinal fusion complications, painful middle back scar, and scars of the knees, have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. A TDIU is granted.