The Board found that the veteran's left thigh scar did not cause any functional impairment and denied an increased rating. The service connection claim for a left knee condition secondary to his scar was also denied as there is no evidence linking the knee disability to the scar.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the shrapnel wound scar did not cause any functional impairment of the knee or leg, and that the veteran's left knee condition was due to generalized degenerative joint disease resulting from aging rather than the service-connected scar.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-operative residuals of left thigh shrapnel wound scar, Left knee condition
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2002
- Citation
- 0204459
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0204459.
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: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, left knee condition, right knee condition, and sinusitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for chronic laryngeal papillomatosis.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a bowel condition, and a bladder condition. The Board found no evidence of a current disability for these conditions and concluded that any relationship to service is not supported by the medical evidence.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of left shoulder, left sinus tarsi syndrome disorder, right sinus tarsi syndrome disorder, left ankle condition and right ankle condition.,Service connection was granted for restrictive lung disease, lumbosacral strain condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral metatarsalgia condition and bilateral plantar fasciitis condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee pain is due to her service-connected left ankle disability and results in functional impairment of earning capacity.
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