The Veteran seeks effective dates earlier than March 7, 2012 for the grant of service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board finds that entitlement to such an effective date is not warranted as the earliest effective date allowed by law is March 7, 2012.,The Veteran also seeks increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine disability (back disability), degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and traumatic left knee injury with post-operative instability. The Board finds that entitlement to such increased ratings is not warranted based on the evidence of record.
The deciding factor: The effective dates are governed by law and cannot be earlier than March 7, 2012 as this was the date VA received the Veteran's claim for an increase in his service-connected back disability. The Board finds that the Veteran did not file a separate claim for radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, thoracolumbar spine disability (back disability), degenerative joint disease of the left knee, traumatic left knee injury with post-operative instability (left knee instability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 1, 2018
- Citation
- 1806549
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1806549.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The issues related to service connection for various conditions and disability ratings.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for middle and index trigger finger/stenosing tenosynovitis of the right hand, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The earliest effective date is June 30, 2012, for the right hand condition and April 22, 2016, for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left lower extremity radiculopathy or any related symptoms causing impairment in earning capacity during the appeal period, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.
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