The Veteran contends that he sustained a gunshot wound prior to service and that his injury was aggravated during basic training. The VA examiner found no residuals of the gunshot wound, but noted chronic neuropathic pain secondary to the injury. The Board finds this opinion inadequate for rating purposes due to conflicting evidence in the medical records.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion is insufficient as it does not address whether there are clear and unmistakable evidence that the pre-existing gunshot wound was aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a gunshot wound to the right upper back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2015
- Citation
- 1505079
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1505079.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's gunshot wound to his right upper back was clearly and unmistakably pre-existing, and not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that additional development is needed, including obtaining military personnel records and private treatment records. The case will be remanded for further action.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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