The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for femoropopliteal bypass surgery, cause of death due to arteriosclerotic heart disease and other conditions, and total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The VA physician concluded that there was no inter-relation between the gunshot wound to the right thigh and subsequent development of significant arterial insufficiency, thus denying service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Femoral artery disease, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Unstable right knee, Wounds to Muscle Group XV of the right thigh and Muscle Groups XIII and XV of the left thigh (each thigh), Wounds of the left hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 2, 2003
- Citation
- 0311143
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 504 · 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 0311143.
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 Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance since January 22, 2018. The Board has granted an effective date of January 22, 2018 for SMC based on aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's discharge from the PCAFC program was remanded due to incomplete file and inadequate medical opinion.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU on a schedular basis, and there is no evidence to support an earlier effective date based on extraschedular considerations.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is rated at 100 percent effective November 21, 2019, due to total occupational and social impairment.
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.