The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound residuals of the neck, back and left upper extremity. Separate 10 percent ratings are also assigned for tender scars at the base of the left trapezius and in the lateral posterior thorax area, as well as mild median nerve partial paralysis in the left forearm.
The deciding factor: The veteran's medical records provided credible evidence of severe muscle injury involving the trapezius muscles due to shell fragment wounds, with retained foreign bodies. The Board found that these residuals warranted a higher rating than previously assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wounds of the neck, shell fragment wound residuals of the back, shell fragment wound residuals of the left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 10, 2003
- Citation
- 0306943
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 0306943.
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
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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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Granted
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of his left foot, as there was no evidence showing that the service-connected conditions resulted in functional limitation equal to that of amputation of the left foot with prosthesis.
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