The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a below-knee amputation of the left leg and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the left foot. The evidence showed that the amputation was due to peripheral vascular disease, not the veteran's service-connected radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's peripheral vascular disease, related to smoking and diabetes, was the cause of the amputation, not the service-connected radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- below-knee amputation (BKA) of the left leg, loss of use of the left foot
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2025
- Citation
- 25001204
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 998 · Granted: 40% (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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 25001204.
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: Partly granted
The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 20 percent rating for lateral instability from January 4, 2019, and a 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage from June 13, 2017, to August 22, 2018. The claims for an earlier effective date, increased rating for extension, separate rating for shin splints, and special monthly compensation were denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's disability ratings for loss of use of the left foot and right hand were reduced, but the termination of benefits related to these disabilities is upheld.,Special Monthly Compensation, specially adapted housing benefits, automobile and adaptive equipment allowance, total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU), and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility were all terminated.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with bypass graft, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, require his wife to assist him in daily activities due to his inability to care for himself.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for loss of use of the left and right feet have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.
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