The Board has determined that the Veteran's left rib injury, characterized as intercostal neuralgia, is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported an in-service injury during combat operations and provided credible testimony of ongoing symptoms since then. The medical evidence supports a diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia that is linked to the in-service injury.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a left rib injury (claimed as left side rib/nerve injury), intercostal neuralgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 18, 2012
- Citation
- 1217833
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 1217833.
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 was granted service connection for pneumothorax with an effective date of December 30, 2021.,Service connection for intercostal neuralgia was also granted with the same effective date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence and need for further examination, including on intercostal neuralgia and upper extremity impairment.
- Granted
The Veteran's nerve damage of the left upper extremity, which includes intercostal neuralgia, is related to his service-connected residuals of lung cancer and thus service connection is granted.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's intercostal neuralgia and hypertension are adequately compensated under applicable schedular rating criteria. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not service-connected.
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.