The Board found that there is no evidence of an increase in disability prior to January 19, 1999 for the earlier effective date claims. For the 30% rating claims, the earliest date on which it was factually ascertainable that the veteran's cold injury residuals warranted a 30% evaluation was April 23, 2001.
The deciding factor: The VA examination conducted in April 2001 provided evidence of nail abnormalities and hyperhidrosis, which were not present at the February 1999 examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Cold injury residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2002
- Citation
- 0204926
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 0204926.
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 Veteran withdrew all appeals related to his cold injury residuals, including the reduction of his rating from 30% to 20%. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted separate, 10 percent ratings for the Veteran's cold injury residuals of both feet. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence of tissue loss, nail abnormalities, color changes, locally impaired sensation, hyperhidrosis, or X-ray abnormalities (osteoporosis, subarticular punched out lesions, or osteoarthritis).
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability, headache disorder, and cold injury residuals are all found to be related to his service. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD contributed to his death. The appellant contends that frequent startle responses from her husband's service-connected hearing loss and PTSD exacerbated by remodeling work at their home likely contributed to his death.
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