The veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 60 percent, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a total rating based on individual unemployability. The case has been referred to the Director of VA Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.
The deciding factor: The veteran's combined rating (30% for right inguinal hernia, 20% for left hand frostbite, 10% each for limitation of motion of the right index finger and genitofemoral nerve neuralgia) does not meet the schedular requirements set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).
- Claimed conditions
- Genitofemoral nerve neuralgia (awarded pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151), Limitation of motion of the right index finger, Residuals of left hand frostbite, Residuals of spermatic cord injury with right testicular atrophy (awarded pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151), Right inguinal hernia, postoperative, Scars of the abdomen and right forefinger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 16, 2004
- Citation
- 0401669
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,555 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0401669.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of left and right hand frostbite, GERD, and an initial rating of 50 percent for migraines.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, a right lower extremity disorder, a back disorder, and a chest disorder as there is no evidence of chronic disability in these areas.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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.