The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected acne scars was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features, which is required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7800.
- Claimed conditions
- acne scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2021
- Citation
- 21061869
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,592 · Granted: 19% (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 21061869.
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 an initial compensable rating of 50 percent for service-connected acne, facial scarring, effective December 16, 2013.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various scars and an eye condition due to a duty to assist error and a notice error.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for migraine headaches, hemorrhoids, a respiratory disability, acne, and acne scars were dismissed due to a procedural defect.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on housebound status was denied because he did not meet the statutory requirements for payment of SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities and TDIU.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.