The Board grants service connection for abdominal scars, post stab wound repair, based on new and relevant evidence.
The deciding factor: The April 2022 VA examiner's opinion that the scars are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service, supported by the January 2005 record documenting a prior history of surgical treatment for knife stab wounds to the abdomen, was found credible and conclusive.
- Claimed conditions
- abdominal scars, post stab wound repair
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25045473
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for abdominal scars and kidney cancer residuals but granted a separate 30 percent rating for the left nephrectomy due to kidney cancer.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for abdominal scars as they are not deep, do not have an area of at least 39 square centimeters, are not unstable or painful, and do not result in any disabling effects.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a compensable rating for ventral hernia and remanded claims for service connection for depression, increased rating for panulcerative colitis with resection of large intestines, and a compensable rating for abdominal scars.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claim for service connection of abdominal scars to conduct further development and obtain a medical opinion.
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