The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left elbow and knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the left elbow disability or a rating in excess of 40 percent for the left knee disability. The Board also found no evidence to support a determination of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and other medical records did not provide sufficient objective evidence of limitation of motion, swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion to warrant an evaluation in excess of the current ratings for either disability.
- Claimed conditions
- left elbow traumatic arthritis, left knee traumatic arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 2, 2003
- Citation
- 0314555
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 0314555.
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: Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for left knee disability, characterized by painful motion but not ankylosis, flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, extension of 10 degrees or greater, instability, or subluxation, was denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine and left knee traumatic arthritis have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a scheduled hearing.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent evaluation for left knee meniscus, effective April 21, 2025, and an additional 20 percent rating was also granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a revision of an October 1990 rating decision that initially denied service connection for left knee traumatic arthritis, finding no clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The correct facts were known at the time, and the rules then in effect supported the denial.
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