The veteran's service-connected right foot and thigh disabilities have not been rated higher than the current 20% and 10% ratings, respectively.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding of more severe disability that would warrant an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right foot, Residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right thigh
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2003
- Citation
- 0300360
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,464 · Granted: 14% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0300360.
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.
- Denied
The Board found that service-connected PTSD and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right thigh did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death from cardiovascular disabilities. The expert opinion concluded there was less than a 50% chance that these conditions caused or aggravated his fatal cardiac conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, shrapnel wounds, and lymphoma, are rated at a combined 60 percent. However, the VA compensation examiners concluded that his disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right thigh, involving Muscle Group XIV. The claim for an increased evaluation for the right forearm was denied and a compensable evaluation for the abdomen was also denied.
- Granted
The veteran's PTSD, right thigh shell fragment wound residuals, and varicose veins of the right leg have been rated at their maximum levels. The combined rating is 90 percent, which prevents him from holding gainful employment.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.