The Board denied restoration of a compensable rating for the linear scar and denied an increased rating for the painful scar. The appeal for service connection for left neck pain loss of ability to taste or produce saliva was dismissed.

The deciding factor: The evidence indicated material improvement in the Veteran's linear scar, which did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7800. A single painful scar did not warrant an increased rating under DC 7804. The appeal for service connection was dismissed due to lack of evidence supporting the claim.

Claimed conditions

linear scar, left side of neck from ear to mid-throat, residual of left supraomohyoid neck dissection, left tonsillectomy, loss of sense of taste associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of head/neck cancer status post left supraomohyoid neck dissection, left tonsillectomy

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

10%

Decision date

October 9, 2025

Citation

A25087545

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