The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities, without regard to non-service connected disabilities or advancing age, do not prevent him from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of cold injury, left lower extremity, residuals of cold injury, right lower extremity, residuals of cold injury, right upper extremity, residuals of cold injury, left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 15, 2003
- Citation
- 0320388
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 0320388.
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 Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of VA examinations for EMG and nerve conduction studies, which were requested in previous decisions. The Veteran's representative argues that adequate notice was not provided regarding the time, date, and location of the examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected cold injury residuals. The issues include increased evaluations for cold injury residuals, TDIU, and clarification on peripheral neuropathy.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and Social Security Administration disability decision documents.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected cold injury residuals prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for TDIU are met.
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.