The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for a scalp laceration, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation under either the previous or amended versions of the skin disorders rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show sufficient characteristics of disfigurement to warrant a compensable rating under the current or prior version of Diagnostic Codes 7800-7805.
- Claimed conditions
- scalp laceration
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2006
- Citation
- 0603098
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (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 0603098.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right and left tennis elbow, left shoulder arthritis, left hand neuropathy, right leg neuropathy, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted. The PACT Act expanded the presumptive exposure for hypertension to include veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including back disability, bilateral leg disabilities, right foot and ankle disabilities, right elbow and wrist disabilities, left rib fracture, neck disability, scalp laceration, and migraine headaches. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his nonservice-connected tremor in his right hand.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.