The Board denied the veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for his service-connected right shoulder strain/neck strain and chronic epididymitis, finding that there was no factually ascertainable increase in severity during the year prior to July 28, 1998.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence showing a factually ascertainable increase in the veteran's chronic epididymitis during the year prior to July 28, 1998 and prior to May 21, 1998.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Strain/Neck Strain, Chronic Epididymitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 12, 2001
- Citation
- 0124553
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 0124553.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic epididymitis or a rating in excess of 50 percent for chronic adjustment disorder associated with chronic epididymitis.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for chronic epididymitis and a separate 20 percent rating for urinary frequency due to service-connected epididymitis.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is aggravated by his service-connected chronic epididymitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's service-connected chronic epididymitis and recurrent prostatitis have been rated at 10 percent since February 1, 1997. The RO has increased the rating to 20 percent effective December 20, 2004.
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