The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for thoracic strain with degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and right hip bursitis. The decision found that there was no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date.
The deciding factor: There is no legal entitlement to an effective date earlier than January 10, 1996 for the grants of service connection due to the finality of the September 1986 rating decision and the lack of evidence showing a disability arose prior to that date.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracic strain with degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, right hip bursitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 1, 2002
- Citation
- 0213316
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0213316.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip disability is likely related to his service, granting him service connection for a right hip disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediary step.
- Dismissed
Your claim for service connection for right hip bursitis has been granted, effective from the day after you separated from active duty. The appeal is dismissed as moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's bilateral ankle collateral ligament sprain, left shoulder bursitis, right hip bursitis, and right knee arthritis are being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate opinions in the previous decision.
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