The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for costochondritis associated with a residual scar from right lower lobe segmentectomy is granted. The appeal regarding the TDIU issue is remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran’s service-connected costochondritis results in moderately severe or severe impairment to muscle group XXI throughout the appeal period, warranting an initial 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Costochondritis, Residual scar from right lower lobe segmentectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19153370
Veterans Law Judge
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 19153370.
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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