The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's right cheek scar to his active service, including a 1973 assault. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right cheek scar was denied. For the left index finger laceration, the Board noted that the disability is currently rated at 10 percent and there are no additional factors warranting an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lay testimony attributing his right cheek scar to the 1973 assault was not credible due to lack of documentation in contemporaneous medical records, which would have documented such injury if it occurred. The Board found that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right cheek scar must be denied.
- Claimed conditions
- Right cheek scar, Left index finger laceration
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 6, 2016
- Citation
- 1626914
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 1626914.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
An earlier effective date of January 29, 2015 for service connection for the right cheek scar is granted.,An earlier effective date of January 29, 2015 for a 20 percent rating for the left clavicle disability is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The claims for increased ratings for left index finger laceration and scar residuals remain pending.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his service-connected right cheek and right lower extremity scars were granted, with the right cheek scar receiving a separate 10 percent rating based on pain since August 28, 2009. The right lower extremity scar was rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his scars did not meet criteria for higher ratings and that there was insufficient evidence to establish a secondary service connection for a heart disorder.
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