The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for dependency benefits was denied as the evidence did not show that he had submitted information about his dependents within a year of being notified of his combined rating in January 2007.
The deciding factor: VA received documentation of the Veteran's dependents after the one-year notification period, and there is no clear evidence to support earlier submission of this information.
- Claimed conditions
- musculoligamentous lumbar back strain with mild multilevel degenerative disc disease, chronic right ankle instability, chronic left ankle instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 22, 2014
- Citation
- 1423325
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 1423325.
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 increased ratings for the veteran's major depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic right ankle instability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea and gastrointestinal disorder were remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for his right ankle, thumb, and ring finger disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal before a decision was made.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic left ankle instability, ankle arthritis, and chronically torn ligaments, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding his in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since separation from service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic left and right ankle instability, finding that the current disabilities are causally connected to in-service ankle instability.
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