The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected left thigh gunshot wound involving Muscle Group XIV, finding that the residuals did not more nearly approximate severe muscle impairment.
The deciding factor: The examiner found only mild residuals of the muscle injury and there was no evidence of knee instability or pain. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Muscle Group XIV injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2003
- Citation
- 0328951
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 0328951.
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 several issues for further development, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and increased ratings for various disabilities. The Veteran's muscle group XIV injury and right knee traumatic arthritis are still under consideration.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's residuals of injury to Muscle Group XIV are currently rated at 10 percent disabling, the maximum evaluation authorized under Diagnostic Code 7804-5314. The issue of evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss disability is addressed in the REMAND portion.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if multiple disabilities are separately ratable under the rule in Esteban v. Brown and to obtain sufficient medical evidence to rate them accordingly.
- Whole decision: Granted
The VA determined that the veteran's right thigh GSW injury, involving Muscle Group XIV, warrants a 10 percent disability rating.
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