The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board finds that the earliest effective date allowed by law is August 9, 2003.
The deciding factor: The claim was granted with an effective date of August 9, 2003, which is the earliest allowable under VA regulations for a TDIU grant based on factual ascertainability within one year from receipt of the increased rating claim.
- Claimed conditions
- varicose veins of the left lower extremity, left lateral and medial malleolus surgical scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2012
- Citation
- 1201417
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 1201417.
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 Veteran's claim for an effective date of February 14, 2022, for the 70 percent non-initial staged rating for service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date of March 27, 2022, for service connection for sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date of March 27, 2022, for service connection for sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 16, 2023, for the 10 percent non-initial staged rating for service-connected varicose veins of the right lower extremity is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 16, 2023, for the 10 percent non-initial staged rating for service-connected varicose veins of the left lower extremity is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher disability rating for varicose veins of both lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the effects of medication.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities, effective October 8, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's varicose veins of both lower extremities and a separate rating for her sleep disability, but denied entitlement to TDIU.
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