The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected migraine headaches, residuals of a medial meniscectomy of the left knee, residuals of a fracture of the left fibula, residuals of a fracture of the right thumb, and residuals of a fracture of the left fourth finger. The claim for an increased rating for the appendectomy scar was not addressed in this decision.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected conditions were evaluated based on their current manifestations without considering additional factors such as uncontrolled headaches or other contributing medical issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Appendectomy scar, Migraine headaches, Residuals of a fracture of the left 4th finger, Residuals of a fracture of the left fibula, Residuals of a fracture of the right thumb, Residuals of a medial meniscectomy of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2004
- Citation
- 0405481
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 0405481.
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 earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and migraine headaches, but remanded the claims for a low back disability and related radiculopathies.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for a facial injury, head injury, and left thumb injury as there was no evidence of current disability or functional impairment. The claims for GERD, squamous mucosa, migraine headaches, and hypertension were remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for failure to timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the July 2024 rating decision.
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.