The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for left shoulder scars because the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left shoulder scars do not cover an area of at least 144 square inches and are not painful or unstable.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25002332
Veterans Law Judge
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 A25002332.
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
The Veteran's claim for left shoulder scars was granted with an effective date of April 16, 2024. The Board found that the earlier effective date is not warranted as the Veteran did not have a scar disability until his TDIU claim in April 2024.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues for further review, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of current bilateral hearing disability meeting VA criteria. His left shoulder scars and left flank scar ratings remain noncompensable due to lack of compensating factors such as pain or instability. Hyperuricemia is not rated higher than noncompensable under the applicable diagnostic codes, and hypertension remains noncompensable.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an increased disability rating for service-connected left shoulder scars, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to his in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for left shoulder scars, generalized anxiety disorder with ADHD, and migraine headaches were also granted.
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