The veteran's claim to reopen the issue of entitlement to TDIU benefits prior to May 1, 1998 is denied as it is legally insufficient.
The deciding factor: The effective date for the grant of TDIU was established as May 1, 1998, and the veteran did not appeal any aspect of this decision. The claim cannot be reopened due to the finality of the May 1999 rating action.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, bipolar disorder, abdominal aortic aneurysm, tinnitus, Morton's neuroma of the right foot, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, right inguinal hernia, seborrheic keratoses excised from the nose
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 28, 2004
- Citation
- 0426990
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 0426990.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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