The Board has found that there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the February 1974 rating decision, which failed to grant service connection for residuals of facial muscle injury, facial nerve injury, and visual impairment as the result of through and through lacerations and penetrating wounds to the face. The appropriate evaluation is now 50 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7800.
The deciding factor: The February 1974 rating decision did not consider the manifestations of contrasted color in the multiple scars that were residuals of the through and through lacerations and penetrating wounds to the face, as required by the Note following Diagnostic Code 7800.
- Claimed conditions
- Impairment of facial muscles including Masseter and Aeragoid muscles, Impairment of facial nerves including left infra-orbital nerve, Visual impairment (astigmatism in the left eye)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 24, 2010
- Citation
- 1010999
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 1010999.
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
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