The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his post-surgical scars was dismissed. The Board granted an initial compensable rating of 20 percent for four painful post-surgical scars associated with lumbar spine disability and an additional initial compensable rating of 10 percent for one unstable and painful post-surgical scar.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew the issue of an increased rating claim for left foot post-surgical scars, leaving only his claims for the other issues on appeal. The Board granted these claims based on the Veteran's testimony regarding the pain he experienced from his scars.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot post-surgical scars, four painful post-surgical scars associated with lumbar spine disability, one unstable and painful post-surgical scar associated with lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 15, 2018
- Citation
- 18142052
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 18142052.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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