The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chest wall discomfort was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a moderate muscle injury, and thus, he is not entitled to an increased rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also remanded as there were no schedular requirements met, but the evidence suggested his service-connected disabilities may preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5321 (muscle injuries) are not met because the Veteran's injury was not of the severity required to be classified as moderate. The symptoms reported by the Veteran do not align with the specific findings required for a moderate muscle disability.,The evidence did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU, but there is an indication that his service-connected disabilities may preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- chest wall discomfort
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20052016
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 20052016.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including chest wall discomfort and osteoarthritis of the left hand. The case is being remanded for an addendum medical opinion addressing the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his occupational functioning.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for laceration to the right lateral eyebrow and scar of the right lateral eyebrow have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for chest wall discomfort, as well as the TDIU claim.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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