The VA has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the chest and a 10 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left lower leg. Service connection is also established for arthritis, which is considered secondary to the service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA found that new evidence had reopened the claim for arthritis, establishing it as secondary to the service-connected chest and leg wounds.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of shell fragment wound to the chest, Arthritis of left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 10, 2002
- Citation
- 0204332
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 0204332.
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 Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the left hand, right hand, left knee, and right knee as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C (HCV) due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions addressing whether HCV caused or aggravated these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is now entitled to a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of arthritis of the left and right shoulders due to new evidence received since the last denial. However, no rating increase was granted as the residuals of a fracture of the right little finger continue to meet the criteria for a non-compensable evaluation.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative disease of the right shoulder and hands, including as secondary to arthralgia-myalgia syndrome, probable rheumatoid arthritis, and arthritis of left shoulder. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.
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