The Veteran's service-connected costochondritis has been rated at 10 percent since March 22, 2002. The VA examiner found no evidence of respiratory problems or chest deformity and noted the Veteran had some tenderness to the right side of the sternum.
The deciding factor: VA examiners determined that the Veteran's symptoms were related to his congenital rib fusion without any additional service-connected conditions aggravating it, thus a direct service connection was established.
- Claimed conditions
- Costochondritis, Congenital fusion of the 3rd and 4th ribs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 26, 2012
- Citation
- 1215198
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 1215198.
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 reduction in rating for the Veteran's back condition from 40% to 20%, effective September 1, 2025 is improper and void ab initio. The petition to reverse this reduction is granted. An increased rating for costochondritis is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 18, 2012, for a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable within one year prior to his July 18, 2012, claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for costochondritis is denied, and the Board has remanded his claim of service connection for a headache condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's costochondritis and asthma have been granted service connection, with a 10% evaluation for asthma.
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