The Board has granted service connection for shell fragment wounds of the right hand, chin, and right leg. The veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the veteran sustained shrapnel injuries during his military service, which resulted in current disabilities including a shell fragment wound of the right hand, chin, and right leg.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound of the chin, shell fragment wound of the right hand, shrapnel wound of the right leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 16, 2004
- Citation
- 0419265
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,038 · Granted: 30% (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 0419265.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected right hand disability. The claim is being returned to the RO/AMC for further development and adjudication.
- Granted
The Veteran's shell fragment wound of the right hand is currently rated at 30 percent prior to July 24, 2012 and at 20 percent since then. The degenerative arthritis of the right hand is rated at 10 percent effective July 24, 2012.,Compensable ratings are not warranted for scars associated with the shell fragment wounds of the right and left wrists.
- Dismissed
The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, citing permanent and total disability. As a result, the Board dismisses the appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for a shrapnel wound of the right leg with retained foreign body is granted as his account of combat exposure and corroborating evidence support this finding.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.