The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied as the evidence does not support an earlier effective date prior to April 28, 1988.
The deciding factor: The January 31, 1989 rating decision granted service connection and assigned disability ratings based on the evidence of record at that time, which was consistent with the existing legal authority. The Veteran did not file a timely notice of disagreement or new and material evidence within one year of the decision.
- Claimed conditions
- status post head injury with cerebral concussion and residuals bilateral VI nerve palsy, facial laceration of the left ear and left face, mandibular fracture, maxillary fracture, tinnitus, right ear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2015
- Citation
- 1511823
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 1511823.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, right ear, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military noise exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for mandibular fracture was denied because he failed to report for the necessary VA examination without good cause.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for loss of teeth and a compensable rating for mandibular fracture, finding that the Veteran's loss of teeth did not result from in-service trauma.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination, as the Veteran is incarcerated and unable to provide relevant information.
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