The veteran's right foot disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The veteran's left elbow disability has been increased to 20 percent effective February 13, 1998. The Board does not find additional evidence of more severe impairment warranting an even higher rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the right foot injury is primarily manifested by complaints of pain and minimal functional limitation, which do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5310.,The veteran's left elbow has degenerative arthritis but no other significant impairment. The Board finds that the current 20 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left elbow with residual healed deep C deformity of the distal humerus and arthritis, status post closed reduction for fracture/dislocation, pterygium of the left eye, residuals, perforating gunshot wound, Muscle Group X, right foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2003
- Citation
- 0305643
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 0305643.
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.
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- Partly granted
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer and residuals, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his in-service prostatitis and his later diagnosis of prostate cancer.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral foot and ankle conditions to correct a duty to assist error, requiring medical opinions on their relationship to the Veteran's service.
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