The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a right fibula fracture, left hand shell fragment wound, and right chest shell fragment wound have been denied as there is no evidence of any compensable disability.,There are no scars or other service-connected conditions affecting the Veteran's hands or chest that warrant separate evaluations. The Veteran has full range of motion in all joints and normal neurological examination results.,The Veteran is currently unemployed, but this does not affect his entitlement to a TDIU as there is no indication of any impairment due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support the assignment of compensable ratings for the residuals of the right fibula fracture, left hand shell fragment wound, and right chest shell fragment wound. The Veteran's hands and chest do not have any scars or other service-connected conditions that warrant separate evaluations.,There is no indication of muscle, nerve, or orthopedic dysfunction associated with the service-connected shell fragment wounds in the Veteran's hands or chest.
- Claimed conditions
- Right fibula fracture, Left hand shell fragment wound, Right chest shell fragment wound
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2017
- Citation
- 1718247
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1718247.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for his right chest shell fragment wound, muscle group I, minor arm was denied. The Board found that the symptoms were not distinct from those of muscle group II and concluded that assigning a separate rating would constitute impermissible pyramiding.,For the appeal period from April 3, 2012, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his claim for TDIU.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of right fibula fracture and resection of the benign tumor of the right fibular head is denied. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for right knee limitation of extension.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right fibula fracture and associated ankle limitation of motion are rated at 20 percent from September 24, 2013 to December 17, 2014. The claim for a higher rating prior to October 8, 2019 is denied as the disability does not warrant an increased rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right fibula fracture symptoms most nearly approximate malunion of the fibula with marked ankle disability, and a rating of 30 percent is granted for this condition.
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