The veteran's claim for an increased rating for spleen removal with history of pneumonia and scar was denied, as there is no evidence of systemic infection. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the combined disability rating not meeting the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability as they do not add up to at least one ratable at 40 percent or more, and sufficient additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of spleen removal, history of episodes of pneumonia and scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 7, 2003
- Citation
- 0302425
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,613 · Granted: 30% (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 0302425.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, residuals of spleen removal, and spine disabilities due to a need for additional evidence and an adequate VA examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the prior decision and has ordered a new VA examination for the Veteran's current pancreas disability, including residuals of both the pancreatectomy and splenectomy.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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