The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for service-connected scars of the lumbar spine is denied. The RO has already granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable rating for these scars, but did not include them in the combined disability rating calculation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected scars have been previously rated and are now part of his existing combined disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0610193
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 Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, considering that his service-connected orthopedic disabilities and major depressive disorder contributed substantially to his death.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for initial increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, bilateral lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, and a scar.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters of an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoid and service connection for a scar, to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoid disability due to inadequate VA examination and missing medical records.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and heart condition were dismissed because they were granted benefits. A 10 percent rating was granted for the scar.
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