The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to January 30, 2018 for the grant of service connection for a scar disability is denied. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than January 30, 2018 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for heart disability prior to January 30, 2018 is denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected scar disability is denied.
The deciding factor: The effective date for the grant of service connection for a scar disability was fixed at January 30, 2018 due to the lack of unadjudicated claims prior to that date and the fact that the claim was not filed within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's heart disability is rated as 60 percent disabling since November 28, 2017, based on his LVEF of no lower than 42 percent. The Veteran's scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery disease (heart disability), Scar of the mid sternal and left lower leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2024
- Citation
- 24005511
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 24005511.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected heart disability does not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore the claim for a TDIU is denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
For the period on appeal from March 2, 2018, a 100 percent evaluation for the Veteran’s service-connected coronary artery disease (heart disability) is granted.,Effective March 2, 2018, special monthly compensation (SMC) at the house bound rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (s), is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's heart disability is rated at 60 percent, and the appeal for an increased rating remains pending. The issues of service connection for left and right lower extremity neurological disorders are remanded due to potential herbicide agent exposure. The TDIU claim is also remanded.
- Whole decision: 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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