The Board denied a claim for an increased disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected scar, residual of removal of tumor in the right parotid area, right neck, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features, or four or five characteristics of disfigurement necessary to warrant a 50% disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- scar, residual of removal of tumor in the right parotid area, right neck, Frey's syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20071671
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, considering that his service-connected orthopedic disabilities and major depressive disorder contributed substantially to his death.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for initial increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, bilateral lower extremity femoral radiculopathy, and a scar.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters of an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoid and service connection for a scar, to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoid disability due to inadequate VA examination and missing medical records.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and heart condition were dismissed because they were granted benefits. A 10 percent rating was granted for the scar.
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