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Denied

The veteran's residuals of GSWs to the left thigh and left buttock are considered no more disabling than a moderately severe injury for Muscle Group XIII and a moderate injury for Muscle Group XVII, with a separate 20 percent disability evaluation assigned for four painful scars.

The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the veteran's residuals of GSWs to the left thigh and left buttock are more disabling than a moderately severe or moderate injury, respectively. The presence of four painful scars warrants a separate rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.

Claimed conditions
Residuals of a gunshot wound (GSW) to the left thigh, involving Muscle Group XIII, Residuals of a GSW to the left buttock, involving Muscle Group XVII, Four painful scars, including entry and exit wounds to the left thigh and left buttock
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
20%
Decision date
January 21, 2009
Citation
0902178

Veterans Law Judge

WILLIAM YATES

Decisions by this judge: 112 · Granted: 22% (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 0902178.

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