The veteran's claims for initial ratings higher than 10 percent for his service-connected disabilities were denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding of functional impairment sufficient to warrant a rating higher than 10 percent under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a left arm injury, Residuals of a left knee injury, Scars of the left hand, Scars of the right hand, Scar on the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2009
- Citation
- 0903610
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 734 · Granted: 9% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0903610.
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 Board granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and granted higher ratings of 40 percent each for thoracolumbar spine disability, radiculopathy in the left lower extremity, and headaches.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause an intermittent inability to provide for his needs and require his wife's assistance, leading the Board to find that he requires aid and attendance of another person.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since September 4, 2014. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to February 26, 2020. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
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