The veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of shell fragment wounds to the forehead and left thumb were denied as his scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.,The veteran's claim for an increased rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities was also denied.
The deciding factor: The veteran's residual scarring did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not have any of the eight characteristics of disfigurement or cause limitation of motion.,The veteran had five service-connected disabilities rated at 0 percent, none of which met the requirement of multiple, noncompensable disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound to the forehead, shell fragment wound to the left thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 7, 2007
- Citation
- 0704007
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 0704007.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left foot, effective from the date of the decision. The rating for the left thumb remains at 10 percent.
- Denied
The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected shell fragment wounds to the right shoulder, left arm, and left hand in March 1950. The decision was based on the existing evidence at that time.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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.