The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including shrapnel wounds to the right hand and leg, as well as PTSD, are not rated higher than their current levels.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not find any evidence of scars that meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 7803-7805. For PTSD, the examiner found symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of mild to subclinical PTSD, which does not warrant higher ratings based on the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of shrapnel wound to the right hand, Residuals of shrapnel wound to the right leg, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2002
- Citation
- 0208890
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 0208890.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) during a period of ACDUTRA.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Granted
The Board grants service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on the Veteran's combat experiences in Southwest Asia.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right inguinal hernia, non allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), while granting service connection for left knee strain and left leg shin splints.
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