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
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2003
- Citation
- 0305643
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 0305643.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, including as secondary to service-connected bilateral eye disabilities and tinnitus, is remanded due to a duty to assist error. New VA medical opinions are required.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's bilateral dry eyes are not secondary to his service-connected pterygium of the left eye and are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's inactive pterygium of the left eye has caused no documented incapacitating episodes.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
Your claims of service connection for refractive error, pterygium of the left eye, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as your appeal has been withdrawn by you through a Higher-Level Review (HLR).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for pterygium of the left eye and sleep apnea syndrome due to a lack of substantial compliance with its previous remand directives.
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