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Whole decision: Denied

The veteran's service-connected sickle cell disease is manifested by continued impairment of health, but does not cause painful crises several times a year or symptoms precluding other than light manual labor. The criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The deciding factor: The veteran's sickle cell disease alone has not caused any changes in the skin, joints, bones, or major organs and does not preclude light manual labor or some gainful employment.

Claimed conditions
sickle cell disease
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating
Not verified here — check the original decision
Decision date
October 29, 2003
Citation
0329627

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 0329627.

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.

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