The veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for residuals of the left index finger shrapnel wound, effective July 22, 2007. The other noncompensable ratings assigned in November 1971 are denied as there was no CUE.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed moderate muscle injury with limitation of motion and adherence to underlying tissue, warranting a 10 percent rating for the left index finger shrapnel wound. There was no evidence of muscle damage or impairment in the other scars at the time of the November 1971 decision.
- Claimed conditions
- Chin shrapnel wound, Left arm shrapnel wound, Left index finger shrapnel wound, Left leg shrapnel wound, Left thigh shrapnel wound, Right thigh shrapnel wound
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 23, 2003
- Citation
- 0307769
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0307769.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he was laid off due to economic reasons rather than his service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's left arm shrapnel wound with foreign body and associated nerve damage are granted a 30 percent rating, effective December 9, 2019. The compensable rating for the scar is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the claims for left forearm, left leg, left wrist, and right forearm shrapnel wounds as well as a rating in excess of 30 percent for Parkinson's Disease are remanded due to need for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's right thigh shrapnel wound residuals have not manifested a visible scar, limitation of motion or function of the affected bodily part (right thigh muscle group XV), or painful motion of the affected bodily part. Therefore, his claim for an increased rating has been denied.
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