Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Denied

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 12, 1996, for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The decision found that no earlier effective date could be assigned as there was no contemporaneous evidence of entitlement to individual unemployability within the nine-month period following the February 23, 1996 Board decision.

The deciding factor: The Board determined that any medical opinion asserting unemployability before November 12, 1996 by virtue of service-connected disability would be speculative due to lack of contemporaneous evidence.

Claimed conditions
irritable bowel syndrome, residuals of colostomy
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
March 17, 2000
Citation
0007258

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 0007258.

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.

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.