The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred was April 1, 2016.
The deciding factor: There were no medical records showing worsening symptoms prior to April 1, 2016, and the Veteran did not apply for TDIU until February 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- Autism Disorder, Anxiety
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2019
- Citation
- A19002403
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a heart disability, to include coronary artery disease (CAD), as secondary to the Veteran's anxiety and assigned a 70 percent rating from April 29, 2025. The Board also granted an initial 30 percent rating prior to that date.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, while remanding claims for depression, anxiety, sleep disorder, right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbar spine strain.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, agitation, and sleep issues, due to in-service military sexual trauma (MST).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance/alcohol use disorders, due to inadequate VA examination and missing Vet Center records.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.