The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected laparotomy scar, finding that the current evaluation of 10 percent is the highest possible under the applicable criteria.
The deciding factor: The veteran's laparotomy scar was evaluated and found to be a well-healed scar without any functional limitation or underlying soft tissue damage. The rating assigned is at its maximum for a tender and painful scar, as per Diagnostic Code 7804.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of laparotomy with drainage of retroperitoneal hematoma and hematoma of the left hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 26, 2003
- Citation
- 0303385
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,710 · Granted: 15% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0303385.
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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