The Board has determined that the claim of service connection for residuals of facial injuries cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim of service connection for scars resulting from splinters is not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence showing a current disability related to these incidents.
The deciding factor: The submitted evidence does not provide sufficient information to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for residuals of facial injuries, and there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current scarring to the splinters sustained during service.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of facial injuries, scars as a result of splinters to the left forearm, chest, and neck
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2000
- Citation
- 0023261
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0023261.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of facial injuries, including an aneurysm and memory loss. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right foot disability, and residuals of facial injuries due to lack of in-service diagnosis and continuity of symptomatology.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and private dental records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for facial injuries is being reconsidered.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is denied for residuals of frostbite, facial injuries, dental injuries, and neurological seizures.,Service connection is granted for PTSD with an initial rating of 30%.
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