The Veteran's claim for service connection for cold injury residuals to the bilateral upper extremities is denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his frostbite with degenerative changes of the bilateral lower extremities are also denied as there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual circumstances warranting referral for extra-schedular consideration.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has not provided competent and credible evidence to establish a current disability of cold injury residuals to the upper extremities. The VA examinations did not find any diagnosis related to such disabilities, and the Veteran's testimony was inconsistent with his STRs which do not show complaints or findings regarding the upper extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- Cold Injury Residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2016
- Citation
- 1610561
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 1610561.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, hypertension, and cold injury residuals are all remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected cold injury residuals of the bilateral lower extremities are rated at 30 percent effective December 5, 1945 to January 12, 1998. Effective on and after January 12, 1998, his right and left lower extremities are each rated at 30 percent.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased evaluations of his various disabilities has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected residuals of cold injury to the upper and lower extremities have been granted separate disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy (PN).,Higher initial evaluations are not warranted for the Veteran’s service-connected residuals of cold injury.
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.