BVA decisions by condition
Scars other superficial unstable: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a scars other superficial unstable issue in 520 decisions. It granted the scars other superficial unstable issue in 21.9% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 59.6%, and remanded it in 19.0%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 26.9% were granted.
Decisions
520
2017–2026
Granted
21.9%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
26.9%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
19.0%
Denied: 59.6%
Scars other superficial unstable outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 109 | 20.2% | 62.4% | 16.5% |
| 2018 | 229 | 25.3% | 57.2% | 20.1% |
| 2019 | 132 | 18.9% | 56.8% | 21.2% |
Evidence in granted and denied scars other superficial unstable decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the scars other superficial unstable issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lay statement | 387 | 30.3% | 16.3% | +14.0 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 64 | 32.2% | 26.0% | +6.2 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 99 | 27.6% | 26.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Positive nexus opinion | 46 | 20.5% | 27.6% | −7.2 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 65.8% of the decisions that granted scars other superficial unstable.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 47.4% of grants and 17.4% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often scars other superficial unstable was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfavorable VA exam | 351 | 27.6% | 24.8% | +2.8 pts |
| Negative nexus opinion | 153 | 23.3% | 28.5% | −5.2 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied scars other superficial unstable
Most common reasons in grants
- Meets criteria for 10 percent rating under DC 78049
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim3
- Scar is painful2
- Criteria for higher ratings not met2
- Rated under DC 78042
- Four painful scars identified2
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim21
- Criteria for compensable rating not met16
- Scar not painful or unstable10
- Scar is not painful or unstable8
- Criteria for higher rating not met6
- Scars not painful or unstable6
- Already at the maximum schedular rating6
- Scar is not unstable4
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent scars other superficial unstable decisions
Granted
Scar is tender and painful; Consistent with 10 percent rating under DC 7804; No objective findings for instability or functional impact for higher rating
Earlier effective date granted; 20 percent rating granted for specific period
Favorable finding of current disability by RO; Favorable finding of TERA conceded by RO; Credible testimony of continuity of symptoms since active duty; VA examiner's opinion found inadequate; failed to address secondary basis
Denied
Scar is stable, not painful, not unstable; Scar area less than 144 sq. cm.; No underlying tissue damage
No new and relevant evidence presented showing current scarring secondary to tinea versicolor.; Prior denial based on lack of current diagnosis of scarring.
Criteria for service connection not met; Scar not secondary to service-connected disability; Scar not otherwise related to service
Rules that apply to scars other superficial unstable claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your scars other superficial unstable case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a scars other superficial unstable issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.