The veteran's service-connected disabilities of abdominal scars and right flank scars are evaluated as 10 percent disabling. A separate compensable rating is granted for a ruptured disc at L4-L5, resulting in neurological impairment of the right lower extremity.
The deciding factor: The VA medical records show that the veteran has ongoing symptoms related to his service-connected shell fragment wounds, including tenderness of scars and neurological impairment due to a ruptured disc. The Board found these conditions sufficient to warrant separate evaluations for each condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of shell fragment wounds with surgical scars to the abdomen, Residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right flank, Ruptured disc at L4-L5, residuals of shell fragment wounds resulting in neurological impairment of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 5, 2003
- Citation
- 0322972
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 0322972.
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 claims for increased ratings were denied, except for the left knee instability claim which was granted. The right flank disability remains at a noncompensable rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted increased ratings of 30 percent for the service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right foot and right flank, based on moderate to severe impairment.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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