The Veteran's compensable rating for musculoskeletal chest pain is denied as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a moderate disability under Diagnostic Code 5321.
The deciding factor: The severity of the chest pain does not meet the standards described in 38 C.F.R. § 4.56, which require loss of deep fascia or muscle substance or impairment of muscle tonus to warrant a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5321.
- Claimed conditions
- Musculoskeletal chest pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2026
- Citation
- A26003627
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 A26003627.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 case due to a need for an examination of the Veteran regarding his claimed disability, which includes musculoskeletal chest pain and heart issues.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a noncompensable rating for musculoskeletal chest pain and respiratory symptoms (claimed as coughing) has been granted, effective October 16, 2014. The existing 30 percent rating for respiratory symptoms is also made effective from that date.
- Denied
The Veteran's musculoskeletal chest pain results in episodic left chest area pain without underlying cardiac disability or other functional impairment, and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's musculoskeletal chest pain results in episodic pain of the left chest area, without underlying cardiac disability or other functional impairment. The Board finds that his degree of impairment is no more than slight and does not warrant a compensable rating.
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