The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound to his right lower extremity is granted, and he also receives special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of both lower extremities.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the veteran's muscle impairment in his right leg warranted a 10% disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5314, reflecting the severity of his condition as manifested by weakness and pain with retained shrapnel. The decision also granted special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of both lower extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound of the right lower extremity, degenerative arthritis in both knees
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 4, 2001
- Citation
- 0109988
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 0109988.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied. All other claims, including service connection for various conditions and TDIU, were remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee osteoarthritis and low back pain with spinal stenosis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date for the TDIU is April 5, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected scars and right knee disability due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran is also entitled to a new examination for his right knee.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding that there is no evidence to suggest a direct nexus between his in-service injury and his current disability. The Board also noted that the first radiographic evidence of arthritis was more than one year after separation from service.
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