The Veteran's left sternocostal sprain is currently rated at 20 percent, which corresponds to moderate disability of Muscle Group III. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no findings consistent with moderately severe or severe muscle injury.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of through-and-through wounds or other conditions warranting a higher rating for Muscle Group III injury. The Veteran's complaints and examination findings do not meet the criteria for moderate, moderately severe, or severe disability under Diagnostic Codes 5303 and 5321.
- Claimed conditions
- Muscle Group III injury, Muscle Group XXI injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23024520
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 23024520.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected residuals of a left arm shell fragment wound.
- Whole decision: Denied
The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gunshot wound of the left shoulder, Muscle Group III. The evidence showed that he had a healed wound with some residual symptoms but no new or aggravating conditions.
- 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
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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