The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. However, he was granted a TDIU effective September 7, 1993.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show an earlier date of entitlement to the conditions or benefits claimed.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Emotions-Anxiety and Depression, Ankylosing Spondylitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 12, 2005
- Citation
- 0500938
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,642 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0500938.
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 claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for ankylosing spondylitis and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployment (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as there was no evidence that his service-connected conditions prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as there is no current diagnosis of CFS at any time during or contemporaneous to the pendency of the Veteran's appeal. The medical evidence does not support his claim of service connection for CFS.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left spontaneous pneumothorax as his claim was already granted in a prior rating decision. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and ankylosing spondylitis are remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for a low back disability, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.
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.