The Veteran's claim for service connection for scar tissue with numbness has been dismissed as the benefits sought have already been granted. The issue of service connection for cervical spine disability is reopened, but no new rating assigned. Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied. Bilateral hearing loss and back disability are not rated compensably or increased.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for scar tissue with numbness was previously granted in a February 2016 rating decision. The issue of service connection for cervical spine disability has been reopened due to new evidence, but no new rating assigned. Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is no current diagnosis. Bilateral hearing loss and back disability are not rated compensably or increased.
- Claimed conditions
- scar tissue with numbness, cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, bilateral hearing loss, back disability (lumbar strain stenosis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21069920
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 21069920.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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