The Board has determined that the February 2006 rating decision, which awarded an initial 10% rating for facial scar, was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The rating is revised to reflect a 30% rating effective March 26, 2004.
The deciding factor: The evidence then of record established visible or palpable tissue loss and gross distortion or asymmetry of the Veteran's forehead, warranting a 30% rating under DC 7800. The separate 10% rating for painful scar was not allowed as per existing regulations at that time.
- Claimed conditions
- Facial Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19180489
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,676 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19180489.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current GERD is causally related to his military service. Service connection for Facial Scar, OSA, and IBS are remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied increased ratings for various disabilities including back, lower extremity radiculopathy, knee, facial scar, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and erectile dysfunction.
- Granted
The Veteran's facial scar was restored to a 10 percent disability rating effective September 01, 2021. A rating in excess of 10 percent for the facial scar is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her TBI, facial scars, pain, sinus problems, and broken nose.
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