The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for a painful left heel scar were denied as the earliest possible effective date provided by law has already been assigned.
The deciding factor: The RO granted service connection and zero and 10 percent ratings were assigned effective January 15, 2013, which is the earliest possible effective date provided by law.
- Claimed conditions
- left heel scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19113981
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19113981.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a 10% rating for left heel scar is granted from May 13, 2013. The claims for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left heel scar, tinnitus, back disorder, varicose veins, and bilateral leg disorder have been granted service connection. The left heel scar is rated at 10 percent. Tinnitus has been found to be related to active duty service. Service connection for the back disorder, varicose veins, and bilateral leg disorder has not been established.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left heel scar is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing due to lack of loss or use of both lower extremities.
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