The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for burn scars of the left and right hands, but denied his claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of 80 percent for burn scars of the face.
The deciding factor: The criteria for evaluating disabilities of the skin were changed on August 30, 2002. The Veteran's claims predated this change and thus are evaluated under the old criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- burn scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 8, 2009
- Citation
- 0925531
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 0925531.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and burn scars, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and her military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck disability and burn scars due to inadequate VA examination opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to cooperate with scheduling of a VA examination. The case will be returned for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's employment history and medical records. The AOJ needs to obtain this information and provide a new evaluation for TDIU.
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.