The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 20 percent for his service-connected left shoulder scar, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent due to the scar being painful and unstable but not covering an area of at least 39 square centimeters.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left shoulder scar is rated under Diagnostic Code (DC) 7804 for scars, which requires coverage of at least 39 square centimeters. The evidence does not show the scar covers this area or greater.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 14, 2023
- Citation
- 23009371
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 23009371.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and denied higher ratings for the left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for various other conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The claims of increased ratings for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, external hemorrhoids, and entitlement to TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for his left shoulder scar, which is painful, was granted from June 24, 2021.
- Denied
The Veteran's TDIU is denied as the earliest effective date allowable for the grant of a TDIU is January 28, 2021 due to service connection for PTSD.
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