The veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the abdominal wall were denied an increased rating as they did not result in any additional disability such as muscle injury and were not considered moderately severe.
The deciding factor: The wound was found not to be a 'moderately severe' disorder with partial obstruction manifested by delayed motility of barium meal and less frequent and less prolonged episodes of pain.
- Claimed conditions
- gunshot wound residuals of the abdominal wall
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2009
- Citation
- 0904250
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
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