The Board found that the veteran's service-connected muscle disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable Diagnostic Code, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of impairment as per the revised VA rating schedule effective July 3, 1997.
- Claimed conditions
- Muscle Group XIV
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 27, 2003
- Citation
- 0310025
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,464 · Granted: 14% (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 0310025.
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 an effective date of September 1, 1994 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claims of increased disability ratings and earlier effective date for DEA are remanded pending further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left thigh, Muscle Group XIV, which is currently rated at 10 percent.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's hypothetical entitlement to a total disability rating for the requisite period of time due to service-connected disabilities has been established, allowing for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the left thigh and knee with patellectomy meet the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation.
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.