The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for five painful scars and a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 25, 2020. Other claims were denied.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of the pain associated with the scars and the Veteran's inability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his combined service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Painful scars, Scar located on the left lateral face based on hyperpigmentation, Residuals scars located on the left posterior calf distal to the left anterior knee, Residual scars located on the right lateral calf and left palmar base of the thumb, Residual scars located on the left 3rd and 4th fingers, Residual scar located on the right posterior shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25029802
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 998 · Granted: 40% (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 A25029802.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted separate ratings for the Veteran's left knee pain and limited flexion, as well as earlier effective dates for service connection of disfiguring and painful scars. The decision also denied a higher rating for PTSD prior to February 5, 2024.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for several conditions, granted a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and an effective date of August 10, 2023, for the left elbow impairment of supination and pronation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his service connection claims for hypertension and a right hip condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran should be provided with VA medical opinions to address the etiology of his right hip condition and hypertension.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's home modifications and equipment purchases are necessary to enable him to function more independently in his family and community without assistance, or with a reduced level of assistance.,However, additional equipment purchases and/or home modifications, such as an overhead cover for a wheelchair lift at the front of the home, a cover over the front walk, installation of a central air conditioning system, an addition to the home to include installation of a new bathroom downstairs, extension of the rear of the main bedroom to create space for a walk-in closet and a work-out room on the floor below; and creating access to an existing outdoor kitchen located near the pool area, are not necessary.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not necessitate these additional modifications.
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