The veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left thigh are currently rated at 30 percent, and his service-connected mechanical low back pain with traumatic degenerative changes and radiculopathy is currently rated at 40 percent. The appeal seeks higher ratings for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left thigh are manifested by a deep penetrating wound to Muscle Group XIV, loss of a portion of the vastus medialis muscle, and no evidence of explosive effect or intermuscular scarring. His mechanical low back pain with traumatic degenerative changes and radiculopathy is manifested by pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome without ankylosis of the lumbar spine or moderately severe incomplete sciatic nerve paralysis.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound to the left thigh, mechanical low back pain with traumatic degenerative changes and radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 15, 2006
- Citation
- 0635546
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 325 · Granted: 20% (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 0635546.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left thigh and hypoesthesia of the left lower extremity, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the grant of a 100 percent disability rating, including entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has returned the case to the RO due to the veteran's failure to report for scheduled examinations, and the claim is now remanded for further action.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.