The veteran's thoracotomy scar is not compensable, and there is no current evidence of injuries to the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles. The October 1945 rating decision did not involve clear and unmistakable error in failing to service-connect these conditions.
The deciding factor: There is no current medical evidence supporting a diagnosis of injuries to the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles, and the thoracotomy scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracotomy scar, injuries to rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2002
- Citation
- 0206962
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 0206962.
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
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