The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for his surgical scars of the left arm, left hand, back, and chest was granted. However, service connection for tender and painful scar on the right arm, scar on the right hand, scar on the buttocks, and scar on the abdomen were denied.,The Veteran's request for separate compensation for multiple painful scars on his left upper extremity, chest, and back (four in total) was granted. However, service connection for a scar on the right hand, right arm, abdomen, and buttocks remained denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s scars were found to be superficial and nonlinear, with an approximate combined area of 2.55 square centimeters at worst.
- Claimed conditions
- surgical scars, scar, right hand, scar, right arm, scar, buttocks, scar, abdomen
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20006287
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · Granted: 29% (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 20006287.
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.
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The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective October 23, 2024.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for surgical scars was denied. The Board found that the current noncompensable rating is appropriate as the scars are less than 929 square centimeters and do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and a VA examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only due to his remaining functional use of his feet.
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