The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's appendectomy scars as they do not meet the criteria for a 10% or higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record does not show that the Veteran's appendectomy scars measure an area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater, nor are they painful or unstable with frequent loss of covering of skin over the scars.
- Claimed conditions
- appendectomy scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25025049
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The issues of increased ratings for residuals of an appendectomy and appendectomy scars were dismissed due to a procedural error in the form used by the Veteran.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and dry eye syndrome were granted. Other claims, including those for appendectomy scars, PTSD, and an eating disorder, were denied or remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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