The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left foot surgical scar, finding that it did not warrant a higher than 10 percent evaluation due to its stable and painful nature. The Veteran was currently assigned a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed a single left foot linear scar that is painful but stable with no associated underlying soft tissue damage or instability, preventing the assignment of a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot surgical scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19123694
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,828 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19123694.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for hearing loss, and the initial compensable ratings for left foot and right foot surgical scars were also denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address the service connection claim for left foot tarsal coalition and a VA examination is required.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which include bilateral pes planus, right knee strain, left achilles tendon rupture, painful scar associated with left achilles tendon rupture repair, and left foot surgical scar. The Board has granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus and left foot surgical scar have been granted service connection, with the tinnitus receiving a 10% evaluation.
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