The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hand was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.
The deciding factor: The veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination, which is necessary to establish the severity of his current disorder and determine if a compensable disability rating can be established.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2002
- Citation
- 0216821
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 0216821.
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: Dismissed
The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew it prior to a decision being made.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to June 2, 2002 for a 10 percent rating for service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hand with scar is dismissed as there was no appealable issue in his case.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 70 percent on an extra-schedular basis for his right hand disability was denied. The Board found that the residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hand are adequately contemplated by the applicable rating criteria and do not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture warranting an extra-schedular evaluation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by any of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board denies service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
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