The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected conditions did not warrant a higher rating or additional service connection. The scar of the left parietal area of the scalp, while present, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's scars and psychiatric disorders were found to be stable and without significant functional impairment, thus not warranting higher ratings or additional service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Cephalgia (headaches), Scar of the left parietal area of the scalp, Acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder, mood disorder, PTSD), Gastritis (claimed as irritable bowel syndrome), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux/hiatal hernia), Sleep disorder, Asthma, Hearing loss, Residuals of a cold weather injury, Incomplete paralysis, inferior alveolar nerve (dental problem/severed nerves), Gonorrhea to include urethritis, Neck disorder, Bilateral shoulder disorder, Bilateral arm disorder, Bilateral hand disorder, Bilateral leg disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 20, 2013
- Citation
- 1330137
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 1330137.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's asthma is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating adequately compensates his service-connected condition.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim has been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, asthma, and foot conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history throughout the appeal period.
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