The Board denied service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the chest, finding that it was not incurred in the line of duty and due to the veteran's own misconduct.
The deciding factor: Direct service connection is denied because the injury occurred during the period when the veteran was AWOL and was the result of his own willful misconduct.
- Claimed conditions
- gunshot wound to the chest
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 3, 2002
- Citation
- 0207303
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 0207303.
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 service connection for cause of death due to lack of evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia reaction, gunshot wound to the chest, and left ulna fracture render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his condition. The Board granted Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation at all times during the pendency of the appeal.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for a rating increase for his gunshot wound was granted, but his pension benefits were denied due to his felony conviction. The Board found that the denial of pension benefits was not clear and unmistakable error.
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