The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for osteomyelitis of the skull with skull loss was denied as his condition did not result from VA negligence.
The deciding factor: VA treatment records showed appropriate care and no evidence of negligence in treating the veteran's osteomyelitis or skull reconstruction.
- Claimed conditions
- osteomyelitis of the skull, skull loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2003
- Citation
- 0302349
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,325 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0302349.
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: Granted
The Board has granted a higher level of SMC at the rate payable under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t) for the Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals, finding that they require a 'higher level of care' and necessitate nursing home care without regular aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected chronic brain syndrome (CBS) associated with brain trauma and severe neurotic reaction is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA TBI examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. Additionally, he was not rated as totally disabled continuously for at least five years from separation and thus, DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.
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