The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a shrapnel wound to the right arm, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted but concluding that the disability was not incurred in or related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while new and material evidence had been submitted, it did not establish that the veteran's current right arm disability was incurred during his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- shrapnel wound to the right arm
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 28, 2003
- Citation
- 0303538
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,613 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0303538.
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 Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right hip disability, left shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, stomach disorder, and others. The decision also addressed the Veteran's employment status.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a shrapnel wound to the right arm and has reopened the claim for PTSD, finding that new evidence supports reopening of the claim.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The VA Regional Office denied the claim of service connection for a shrapnel wound to the right arm. The case is being remanded due to new requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.
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