The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for residual surgical scars of the left hip is denied as his scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, is denied as he does not have a current headache disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran’s scars are not deep and nonlinear measuring at least 6 square inches (39 sq. cm.) but less than 12 square inches (77 sq. cm.); superficial and nonlinear involving an area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater; or unstable or painful.,The Veteran does not have a current headache disability at any point during the pendency of the appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Residual surgical scars of the left hip"}, {"condition_name":"Migraine headaches"}
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19106648
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for anxiety but denied it for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was less likely than not related to his active service or service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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