The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound disabilities, assigning a 20% rating each for the left arm and back.,Both conditions were rated based on muscle group involvement rather than exposure to specific hazards like burn pits or Agent Orange.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected residuals of the SFW wounds resulted in moderate to moderately severe damage to relevant muscle groups, warranting the assigned ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound to the left arm, shell fragment wound to the back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 21, 2010
- Citation
- 1018907
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 1018907.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a shell fragment wound to the back is granted at 20 percent, but no higher. Service connection for a spine disability other than residuals of the SFW to the back and for an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied. Service connection for basal cell carcinoma is also denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for residuals of shell fragment wounds to the left arm, right eye, left knee and left calf is being remanded due to inadequate examination. The issue of service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy (claimed as prostate disorder) was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims are mixed, with some issues granted and others denied. The low back disorder is granted on the merits, while other claims remain pending due to lack of new and material evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's shell fragment wound residuals and any additional disability in his left shoulder and cervical spine regions.
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