The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his abdominal scar and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his painful scar, right lower abdomen, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show an area of 144 square inches or instability of the Veteran's abdominal scar, which are required for a compensable rating under DC 7802 and a rating in excess of 10 percent under DC 7804.
- Claimed conditions
- painful abdominal scar, right lower abdominal scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20000657
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (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 20000657.
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 the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The left wrist disability remains at a 10 percent rating, GERD received a 60 percent rating from March 6, 2020, and the painful abdominal scar continues to be rated as noncompensable.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for residuals of a hysterectomy, painful abdominal scar secondary to hysterectomy, and incontinence secondary to hysterectomy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40 percent rating, and her radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were rated as 10 percent disabling since February 23, 2015. The painful abdominal scar received a compensable rating.
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