The Board granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right thigh, involving Muscle Group XIV. The claim for an increased evaluation for the right forearm was denied and a compensable evaluation for the abdomen was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the veteran's right thigh shrapnel wound resulted in moderately severe muscle disability with pain and weakness of Muscle Group XIV, warranting a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5314.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a shell fragment wound to the abdomen, Residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right forearm, Residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right thigh
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- September 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0628029
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,374 · Granted: 19% (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 0628029.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connected disabilities, primarily his PTSD and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board found that service-connected PTSD and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right thigh did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death from cardiovascular disabilities. The expert opinion concluded there was less than a 50% chance that these conditions caused or aggravated his fatal cardiac conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, shrapnel wounds, and lymphoma, are rated at a combined 60 percent. However, the VA compensation examiners concluded that his disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The veteran's PTSD, right thigh shell fragment wound residuals, and varicose veins of the right leg have been rated at their maximum levels. The combined rating is 90 percent, which prevents him from holding gainful employment.
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