The Board denied an initial compensable rating for chest scars and a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The claims for service connection for a lung disorder other than spontaneous right pneumothorax and recurrent, spontaneous right pneumothorax were remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms related to his chest scars did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and there was no evidence of two or more noncompensable service-connected disabilities that interfere with normal employability. The claims for service connection were remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- chest scars, lung disorder other than spontaneous, right pneumothorax (claimed as pleurisy), recurrent, spontaneous, right pneumothorax (right lung collapse)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25020162
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,011 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25020162.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chest scars, finding no evidence linking the current scars to service. The Veteran's lay statements about onset and causation were not credible.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chest scars, finding no evidence linking the current scars to service. The Veteran's lay statements about onset and causation were not credible.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chest scars, finding no evidence linking the current scars to service. The Veteran's lay statements about onset and causation were not credible.
- Granted
The Board has granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 12, 2025 rating decision. The appellant's supplemental claim and request for TDIU constituted continuous pursuit of the initial rating decisions.
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