The VA denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder, currently rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of the veteran's symptoms and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound of the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 9, 2004
- Citation
- 0421801
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 0421801.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his range of motion does not meet criteria for an increased rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a shell fragment wound of the left shoulder is being remanded due to incomplete development and consideration.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder, including two or three unremarkable scars in the left shoulder area, were incurred during military service and grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The June 1966 decision assigned a 20 percent rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left shoulder, which was upheld as not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.
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