The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left lumbar region do not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the currently assigned 20 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The residuals of the shell fragment wound result in moderately severe muscle damage, but are attributable to non-service-connected osteoarthritis and well-healed scarring. The appellant's symptoms are primarily due to degenerative osteoarthritis rather than the service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound of the left lumbar region
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 21, 2000
- Citation
- 0016506
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 0016506.
What this means for you
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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 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.
- 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.
- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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