The earliest effective date assignable for the veteran's grant of service connection for a back disorder is June 12, 2001, the date of receipt by VA of the veteran's claim to reopen.
The deciding factor: The RO denied the veteran's claims in 1969 and 1972. The veteran did not appeal these decisions, making them final. He subsequently filed a new claim for service connection on June 12, 2001, which was granted with an effective date of that same day.
- Claimed conditions
- back injury with degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and postoperative residuals of a laminectomy with fusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2009
- Citation
- 0901558
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 granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.