The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a penetrating shell fragment wound of the abdomen, post colostomy warrant a 10 percent disability rating for his scars and an additional 10 percent rating for abdominal muscle cramps.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the veteran continues to experience symptoms related to his service-connected wounds, including pain from his scar tissue and abdominal muscle spasms. These conditions have been consistently noted in VA treatment records and examinations over several years.
- Claimed conditions
- penetrating shell fragment wound of the abdomen, incisional hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2003
- Citation
- 0330739
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 0330739.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to address functional impairment and to determine whether the Veteran has an incisional inguinal hernia.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability of the abdomen as residuals of a kidney surgery, including abdominal wall laxity and incisional hernia.
- Whole decision: Granted
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's bowel perforation and resulting incisional hernia were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The Board finds the event was reasonably foreseeable.
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