The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for thoracolumbar spondylosis was denied as there is no evidence of any unadjudicated formal application to reopen the claim prior to April 12, 2006.
The deciding factor: There was no valid claim submitted before April 12, 2006 that would warrant an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for thoracolumbar spondylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18103498
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 18103498.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, periodic leg movement disorder, and a higher rating for thoracolumbar spondylosis.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spondylosis has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from July 19, 2013, to October 16, 2020.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the ratings and service connection claims related to thoracolumbar spondylosis, hypertension, and radiculopathy left lower extremity sciatic nerve.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its December 2022 remand directives and thus the claims for thoracolumbar spondylosis, onychomycosis (claimed as toe fungus), xeroderma of the bilateral feet, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, and migraines are being returned to the RO for further development.
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