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.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for left shoulder scars was inferred based on the evidence of record due to his ongoing pursuit of TDIU, which resulted in the identification and rating of the scars as a separate condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder scars
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2026
- Citation
- A26026800
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 A26026800.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and denied a compensable rating for left shoulder scars, while remanding the claims for left hip and right hip disabilities.
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