I did some more testing and it's not NBT that's the issue, it's stack size!
The scoreboard objective is only incremented if the selected items stack size is greater than 1.
To reproduce run these commands:
/scoreboard objectives add used_chest minecraft.used:minecraft.chest
/scoreboard objectives setdisplay sidebar used_chest
Add a single chest to a hotbar slot and place it - the objective isn't incremented.
Add 2 or more chests to a hotbar slot and place them - all but the last item will increment the objective.
This is true even in creative where items aren't used.
It seems to happen for stackable items that can be placed.
From my testing it happens with:
chest, barrel, oak_planks, oak_sapling, sheep_spawn_egg (weird)
But not with:
acacia_boat, ender_pearl, flint_and_steel