The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected penetrating shell fragment wound of chest and abdomen with 6th left rib deformity, residual scarring, traumatic and operative was denied. The Board found that the criteria for a 30 percent rating were not met prior to February 15, 2017.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support that it was factually ascertainable that prior to February 15, 2017, the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- penetrating shell fragment wound of chest and abdomen with 6th left rib deformity, residual scarring, traumatic and operative
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 27, 2020
- Citation
- A20016068
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to August 10, 2022, for service-connected conditions as the October 2024 Supplemental Claim was not a valid appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to August 10, 2022, for service-connected conditions as the October 2024 Supplemental Claim was not a valid appeal.
- Granted
The veteran's claim for service connection for a dermatological condition, to include recurrent boils, cysts, and residual scarring, was reopened based on new evidence showing the presence of residual scarring. The Board determined that there is a current disability related to an in-service exposure.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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