The veteran's left (major) shoulder disability, characterized by residuals of a shell fragment wound and injury to Muscle Group III, is currently rated at 20 percent. The appeal has been denied as the condition does not warrant an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's current range of motion and muscle strength do not meet criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5303 or 5201.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound (SFW) of the left shoulder, injury to Muscle Group III
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 9, 2004
- Citation
- 0414970
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 680 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0414970.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The veteran's SFW of the left shoulder is manifested by a superficial, 1/2 inch scar with no pain or limitation of function. The Board has determined that this does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.
- Denied
The Board has denied an increase in a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of the left shoulder, finding that his disability does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.
- Denied
The VA determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability, with a retained foreign body and injury to Muscle Group III, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 20 percent rating.
- 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.
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