The Veteran's initial claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left arm scars was denied. However, the Board granted an initial 20 percent rating from April 13, 2012.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner indicated that the Veteran had three painful scars on his left wrist which were not unstable or associated with underlying soft tissue damage, warranting a 20% rating under DC 7804. The Board found no evidence of five or more painful and/or unstable scars at any time from the date of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- left arm scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 3, 2021
- Citation
- 21026511
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 21026511.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder, lumbosacral strain, right elbow burn scars, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, low testosterone, and left knee disability. However, service connection was granted for TBI, left forehead scar, and left arm scars.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left arm scars, tinnitus, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain VA clinic records since service discharge and associate them with the record.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered individually, do not preclude him from engaging in gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU is denied.
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