The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left thigh disability and service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no direct or secondary service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the veteran's low back disability was unrelated to his service-connected left thigh disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a gunshot wound to the left thigh, Spinal stenosis, status post lumbar decompression
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 4, 2003
- Citation
- 0318841
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 0318841.
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 contribute to his employment handicap, allowing him to receive VR&E benefits.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left thigh do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, while his service-connected left thigh scar does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected gunshot wound residuals to both thighs, finding that the current 10 percent disability ratings adequately reflect the severity of his symptoms.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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