The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected neck scar, granting only a separate non-compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7800.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for ratings higher than 10 percent due to the presence of one characteristic of disfigurement and no palpable tissue loss or gross distortion/ asymmetry of facial features.
- Claimed conditions
- neck scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26017887
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 A26017887.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's neck scar, and a new examination is needed.
- Granted
The Veteran's combined disability rating was 100% from February 6, 2006. The Veteran died in February 2020 and had been receiving a total disability rating for at least 10 years immediately preceding his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various radiculopathy conditions and a neck scar have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the current symptoms.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the intermediate rate between 38 U.S.C. § 1114 subsections (n) and (o) due to multiple service-connected disabilities independently rated at 50 percent or more.
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