The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected left inguinal area scar was denied. The Board found no medical evidence warranting a staged rating and determined that the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating beyond 10 percent under any applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran's claim for aid and attendance allowance for B.E.B. was also denied as she does not meet the criteria due to her divorce from the Veteran, and there is no evidence of need for regular aid and attendance. The Veteran's pension claim was not addressed as it is unclear if he is still receiving compensation evaluated as 30 percent or more disabling.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show that the left inguinal area scar caused limitation of motion, instability, or significant functional impairment warranting a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran's claim for aid and attendance allowance was denied because he is no longer married to B.E.B., who does not meet the criteria for need of regular aid and attendance.
- Claimed conditions
- scar, left inguinal area
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 24, 2010
- Citation
- 1019001
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 1019001.
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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