The Board denied the veteran's claims for entitlement to separate ratings for left shoulder scars and chest scars, as well as an effective date prior to July 10, 1995 for the grant of service connection for a gunshot wound injury to Muscle Group XXII. The effective date for the grant of a 10 percent rating for neck scars was set at August 17, 1995.
The deciding factor: The Board found that entitlement to an increased rating for neck scars arose on August 17, 1995 and thus determined that the earliest effective date available is August 17, 1995. The claims for separate ratings for left shoulder scars and chest scars were denied as there was no evidence of a service-connected condition prior to this date. The claim for an effective date prior to July 10, 1995 for the grant of service connection for a gunshot wound injury to Muscle Group XXII was also denied.
- Claimed conditions
- neck scars, left shoulder scars, chest scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2004
- Citation
- 0419484
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 0419484.
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 Board denied service connection for chest scars, finding no evidence linking the current scars to service. The Veteran's lay statements about onset and causation were not credible.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for chest scars, finding no evidence linking the current scars to service. The Veteran's lay statements about onset and causation were not credible.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for chest scars, finding no evidence linking the current scars to service. The Veteran's lay statements about onset and causation were not credible.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 12, 2025 rating decision. The appellant's supplemental claim and request for TDIU constituted continuous pursuit of the initial rating decisions.
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.