The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for awards of service connection for ocular histoplasmosis and TDIU. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims, as the April 1997 denial of service connection for ocular histoplasmosis became final due to lack of timely appeal. Therefore, an earlier effective date cannot be granted.
The deciding factor: The veteran's claim for service connection for ocular histoplasmosis was denied in April 1997 and did not receive a timely appeal within one year, making the decision final. As a result, no effective date prior to April 25, 2001 can be granted.
- Claimed conditions
- ocular histoplasmosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2007
- Citation
- 0739668
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 0739668.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing treatment records and an incomplete statement of reasons or bases. The Veteran's vision impairment, including loss of visual acuity and visual field loss, is being evaluated for its relationship to ocular histoplasmosis.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ocular histoplasmosis originated during active service and is therefore granted service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral ocular histoplasmosis, finding that there is a reasonable possibility that the condition was caused by an in-service respiratory infection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for ocular histoplasmosis and a lung condition, now claimed as a residual of histoplosis. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.
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