The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination of his service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head.
The deciding factor: There is evidence indicating that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head may have worsened, triggering VA's duty to obtain a new examination as to the current severity of these disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2009
- Citation
- 0944419
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 0944419.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board finds that the Veteran's account of a shrapnel wound to his head during service is credible, and thus service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head, including a scar, is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered the VA to locate and associate all service medical records with your claims file. If these records are not found, you will be notified of this decision.
- Granted
The veteran's service records show he sustained shrapnel wounds to his right elbow, right hand (claimed as the right wrist), and head during World War II. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions based on combat status and medical evidence linking current residuals to service.
- 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.
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