The Board found that the veteran's ASHD, DM, and bilateral leg disorders are unrelated to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.
The deciding factor: The VA physician concluded that the veteran's pes planus did not cause or aggravate his concomitant conditions of ASHD, DM, and any leg disability.
- Claimed conditions
- arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), diabetes mellitus (DM), bilateral leg disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 18, 2003
- Citation
- 0320695
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 0320695.
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).
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 50 percent for major depressive disorder is granted. The claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disorder is denied.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
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