The VA denied an increased rating for the appellant's service-connected residuals of right rib injuries, including reflex sympathetic dystrophy, as they do not warrant a higher than currently assigned 20 percent disability rating.
The deciding factor: The appellant's disability is already rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 8519 (incomplete paralysis of the long thoracic nerve) and does not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5201 (limitation of motion of the arm).
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of right rib injuries, reflex sympathetic dystrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 26, 2001
- Citation
- 0127640
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 0127640.
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.
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- Partly granted
The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for rib disorder, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia, respiratory disorder, skin condition, to include psoriasis, bilateral hand arthritis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral ulnar neuropathy. However, the claims for service connection for bilateral hand arthritis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral ulnar neuropathy, hypertension, rib disorder, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia, respiratory disorder, and skin condition, to include psoriasis, have been denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and other disabilities, finding that the evidence did not establish an in-service injury or event related to these conditions.,Service connection was also denied for fibromyalgia due to lack of a qualifying Persian Gulf War veteran status.
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