The Board has determined that the Veteran's forehead scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code.
The deciding factor: The objective findings of the VA examinations did not document any characteristics of disfigurement, visible or palpable tissue loss, or gross distortion/ asymmetry in the Veteran's forehead scars. The Board found that the numbness reported by the Veteran was not secondary to his service-connected scars and therefore does not warrant a compensable rating.
- Claimed conditions
- forehead scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 2, 2017
- Citation
- 1706356
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 1706356.
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 appeal for increased ratings for forehead scars prior to September 15, 2021 and since that date was denied as the medical evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of painful or unstable scars, visible or palpable tissue loss, disfigurement, or gross distortion or asymmetry of facial features.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for another VA examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his service-connected forehead scars. The AOJ should also obtain any outstanding VA treatment records and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit additional evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and forehead scars, finding no evidence of a nexus to his period of active service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.