The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for shell fragment wounds of the left leg, thigh, and lung have been denied. The VA has determined that a disability rating greater than 20 percent is not warranted for any of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The objective evidence does not support a higher disability rating for any of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound of left leg, osteoarthritis of left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2021
- Citation
- 21003997
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 21003997.
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 petition to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension was granted, as new and material evidence has been received. The condition is now claimed as secondary to kidney, colon, and/or prostate cancer.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted, as new and material evidence has been received. The condition is now claimed as secondary to kidney, colon, and/or prostate cancer.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC for his service-connected left ankle and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether his joint pain is due to an undiagnosed illness or environmental exposure during service and whether he has a medically unexplained multisymptom illness (MUCMI).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis of cervical neck is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for left knee pain with arthritis and right knee pain with arthritis.
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