The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck scar and arthritis of the neck are not service-connected because they resulted from a birthmark removal surgery in service, which is considered an ameliorative procedure. The Board found no evidence to support aggravation of these conditions during service.
The deciding factor: The postoperative scars resulting from the in-service surgical treatment for a pre-existing condition (birthmark) are not service-connected unless aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- neck scar, arthritis of the neck
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1535136
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1535136.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's neck scar, and a new examination is needed.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's combined disability rating was 100% from February 6, 2006. The Veteran died in February 2020 and had been receiving a total disability rating for at least 10 years immediately preceding his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various radiculopathy conditions and a neck scar have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the current symptoms.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected neck scar, granting only a separate non-compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7800.
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