The Veteran's scar, status post left breast biopsy, is granted a 10 percent rating beginning January 6, 2020. The Veteran's prior requests for higher ratings are denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and breast tumors are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's scar was found to be painful as of January 6, 2020, but not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating before that date due to lack of pain or instability.
- Claimed conditions
- Scar, status post left breast biopsy, Acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD), Breast tumors
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23048595
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 23048595.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea disorder, and headache disorder are found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected knee disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's headaches and sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for residuals of a cold injury of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, hepatitis, entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and earlier effective date for the grant of a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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