The Veteran's initial rating for costochondritis was granted at a 10 percent level from August 28, 2012 to October 11, 2018. The Veteran's increased rating for his skin disorder was granted at a 60 percent level from August 28, 2012 and continuing thereafter.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran experienced chest pain due to costochondritis and intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs were required for his skin disorder on a constant/near-constant basis during the past 12-month period, warranting a maximum schedular rating of 60 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Costochondritis, Skin Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19128693
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,242 · Granted: 24% (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 19128693.
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 claims for service connection for asthma and a skin disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering the totality of his military exposure.
- 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.
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