An effective date of August 12, 2013, and no earlier, for the grant of service connection for scar residuals associated with a left foot amputation is granted.,An effective date of August 12, 2013, and no earlier, for the grant of service connection for a painful scar associated with a left foot amputation is granted.,A compensable rating for scar residuals associated with a left foot amputation is denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar associated with a left foot amputation is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence reasonably raised the theory that the Veteran had scar residuals, which were secondary to his service-connected left foot amputation. The effective date was determined based on when the claim for secondary service connection was reasonably raised during the pendency of his increased rating claim.,The medical evidence demonstrated that the Veteran experienced pain and rawness in his stump due to a poorly fitting prosthesis, which caused rubbing almost to the bone, resulting in pain, rawness, bleeding, swelling, numbness, tingling, and additional scarring. The effective date was determined based on when these symptoms were first noted.,The evidence did not demonstrate that the Veteran's scar was deep or had an area exceeding 39 sq. cm., as required under DC 7801 for a compensable rating. Therefore, the noncompensable rating is appropriate.,The evidence demonstrated that the Veteran has one painful and stable scar associated with his left foot amputation. The current version of DC 7804 does not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- scar residuals associated with a left foot amputation, painful scar associated with a left foot amputation
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 21, 2023
- Citation
- A23036988
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 A23036988.
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
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