The Veteran was granted an initial 80 percent rating for residual disfigurement status post left total parotidectomy, a separate 10 percent rating for a painful left neck scar from May 9, 2013 to August 27, 2024, and a 10 percent rating for phrenic nerve damage status post left total parotidectomy based on diaphragm paralysis prior to December 14, 2023.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's disfigurement met the criteria for an initial 80 percent rating and granted a separate 10 percent rating for his painful scar due to service-connected conditions.

Claimed conditions

Residual disfigurement status post left total parotidectomy, Left neck painful scar, Phrenic nerve damage status post left total parotidectomy based on diaphragm paralysis

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

80%

Decision date

October 1, 2025

Citation

A25084672

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine