The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for surgical scars and painful left mastoid process to left sternoclavicular joint scar as secondary to service-connected cervical spine fusion, and his claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The remand is necessary because the VA examination did not include color photographs of the Veteran's scars.
The deciding factor: The lack of color photographs from the most recent VA Scars examination necessitates their acquisition and consideration in evaluating the Veteran's scars.
- Claimed conditions
- surgical scars, painful left mastoid process to left sternoclavicular joint scar
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2022
- Citation
- 22060572
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 22060572.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the ventral hernia, a separate 30 percent rating for painful or unstable surgical scars, and a TDIU effective March 13, 2022. The claims for increased ratings for diverticulitis and surgical scars under Diagnostic Code 7801 were denied.
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