The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left ear scar, left upper thigh scar, and natal cleft scar have been denied.,The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that any of the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his military service or otherwise etiologically linked, and further examination is needed to determine if he currently has these disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ear scar, Left upper thigh scar, Natal cleft scar
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2026
- Citation
- A26037859
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 A26037859.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, alcohol and stimulant disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left ear scar as the evidence did not support these claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left ear scar, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 8, 2016. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from that date.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, specifically obtaining federal records from Social Security Administration.
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