The Board denied a claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected residual scar, stab wound, of the left upper back. The evidence did not support an increased rating as there was no indication that the current shoulder limitations were related to the service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical opinions provided by Dr. Soto and other VA examiners concluded that the veteran's shoulder conditions were due to age-related degenerative changes rather than the service-connected scar or injury, thus not warranting a higher rating based on loss of joint motion.
- Claimed conditions
- residual scar, stab wound of left upper back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2003
- Citation
- 0308188
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 0308188.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted the Veteran's attorney fees of 20 percent of past-due benefits awarded in a March 2023 rating decision. The appeal was based on increased evaluations for unspecified anxiety disorder and CABG.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent for the entire period on appeal.,A compensable rating of 10 percent has been granted for the Veteran's scars from October 26, 2012, to March 8, 2022. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating beyond this period is denied.
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