The Board denied initial compensable disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left upper chest scarring with keloid formation status-post pacemaker placement, right knee surgical scar status post total knee arthroplasty (TKA), surgical abdominal scar, and gunshot wound scar to the left leg and thigh. The appeal seeking service connection for ischemic heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was dismissed.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that any of the scars were painful or unstable, covered an area of 144 square inches (929 square centimeters) or greater, or had disabling effects not considered in the scar rating criteria. There was also no procedural defect with the filing of the Veteran's appeal for service connection for ischemic heart disease and COPD.
- Claimed conditions
- Left upper chest scarring with keloid formation status-post pacemaker placement, Right knee surgical scar status post total knee arthroplasty (TKA), Surgical abdominal scar, Status post gunshot wound scar to the left leg and thigh
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25018684
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,680 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25018684.
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
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- Whole decision: Denied
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- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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