The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The veteran's shell fragment wounds of the nose with traumatic synechium and retained foreign bodies are rated at 10 percent, while his shell fragment wounds of the left upper arm, left lateral thorax, and left thigh do not warrant a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected shell fragment wounds did not result in more than moderate disfigurement or functional loss that would justify an increased rating. The VA examinations found no significant pain, tenderness, ulceration, or other symptoms related to the scars on his head and arm.
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches, Shell Fragment Wounds of Nose with Traumatic Synechium and Retained Foreign Bodies, Shell Fragment Wounds of Left Upper Arm, Left Lateral Thorax, and Left Thigh
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 25, 2001
- Citation
- 0111918
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 0111918.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, a back disability, heart disability, and residuals of a stroke, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service or caused by his service-connected left ear disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claims for a sleep disorder and headaches to ensure proper development of evidence.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal in September 2025, stating that she is now 100% permanently and totally disabled effective April 29, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with TBI and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches as secondary to PTSD with TBI due to a duty to assist error.
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