The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for residuals of a left hand injury, finding that the earliest possible effective date is October 6, 1998.
The deciding factor: The RO received the veteran's first formal or informal claim for service connection on October 6, 1998, which was more than a year after his separation from active duty. The Board found no earlier claims and thus denied the request for an earlier effective date.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a left hand injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2003
- Citation
- 0303457
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 685 · Granted: 36% (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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0303457.
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: Granted
Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a left hand injury are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for residuals of a left hand injury, right foot disability, residuals of a right eye injury, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbosacral degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, right elbow degenerative joint disease, and others, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective August 13, 2021.
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.