The Veteran's disability rating for residuals, SFW of the chest, pleural cavity injuries with retained foreign bodies, p.o. hemopneumothorax is denied as his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher than 20 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran’s disability has been manifested by symptoms such as chest pain and respiratory findings including FEV-1 of 80 to 87 of predicted value, a Forced Expiratory Volume in one second to Forced Vital Capacity (FEV-1/FVC) of 77 to 101 percent predicted, and a Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide by the Single Breath Method (DLCO (SB)) of 102 to 117 percent predicted. These findings do not meet or approximate criteria for a higher than 20 percent evaluation under DC 6843.
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound (SFW) of the chest
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2021
- Citation
- 21004330
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 21004330.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
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- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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