The VA has determined that the veteran's abdominal pain and muscle strain do not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as they are considered to be moderately severe.
The deciding factor: The February 2004 VA examination found no residual scars or significant functional impairment beyond what is already accounted for in the current 30% rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Abdominal Pain, Muscle Strain in Abdomen
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 8, 2006
- Citation
- 0606603
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,196 · 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 0606603.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and a higher rating for migraines, and remanded claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders, abdominal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's TBI is service-connected. The remaining issues of abdominal pain, bilateral foot disorder, epididymitis infection, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, and left hand numbness are remanded for further examination and opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further investigation and clarification of her incarceration status, as well as an audit of her pension account. Additionally, there is a need to ensure proper notification regarding her right to appeal the overpayment of $18,692.07 in pension benefits.
- Granted
The Board finds that the Veteran's medical condition was of such a nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to their life or health. The criteria for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on November 23, 2015 are met.
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.