The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issue of service connection for asbestosis. The Board found that a compensable disability rating (10%) is warranted for his right forehead scar, but denied entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD and other conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for asbestosis. For the right forehead scar, the Board noted pain and depression of the scar without any characteristics of disfigurement or instability warranting a higher rating. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% based on symptoms including restricted affect, anxiety, nightmares, isolation, impairment with thought process and communication, impulse control issues, and difficulty establishing effective relationships.
- Claimed conditions
- asbestosis, right forehead scar, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), onychomycosis and psoriasis, headaches, hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2015
- Citation
- 1502024
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 1502024.
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 has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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