The Veteran's service-connected surgical scar associated with degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating as it is not deep or cause limited motion in an area exceeding 6 square inches (39 sq. cm.).
The deciding factor: The Veteran's surgical scar did not measure an area exceeding 6 square inches and was not found to be unstable or painful, thus failing the criteria for a compensable disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the lumbosacral spine, Surgical Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19132852
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,084 · Granted: 20% (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 19132852.
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 Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's back, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and a surgical scar, as well as earlier effective dates for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and associated surgical scar are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity, with a focus on the impact of flare-ups and upper extremity numbness. The rating for his service-connected right shoulder disability is also being remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and retrospective opinions regarding his service-connected abdominal hernia and surgical scar disabilities. The Board finds that the prior VA examinations are incomplete and do not address the Veteran's credible lay statements about his continuing symptoms.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient examination reports and the need to consider a urological disability related to his service-connected back disorder.
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