The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of psychiatric disability, and a right foot lesion was determined to be secondary to service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner could not definitively state whether the veteran's back pain and knee pain were related to his service-connected left foot condition based on the examination conducted.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle scar, Residuals of left foot injury (including amputated toes), Left knee disability, Right knee disability, Amputation of the toes of the left foot, Degenerative disc disease of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 28, 2005
- Citation
- 0520378
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 0520378.
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: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim for bilateral knee disabilities and his right and left knee scars have been granted. He is now rated at a combined 60% disability rating from June 1, 2018 based on bilateral factors for his bilateral knee disabilities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's entitlement to higher level of SMC at the intermediate rate is granted, effective from January 8, 2021. He was previously in need of aid and attendance due to his left knee disability since February 1, 2017, and now has additional disabilities rated at 50 percent or more.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current diagnosis of right knee strain is related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to their death.
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