The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that the April 2012 rating decision denying this condition was final and that the earliest possible effective date is April 16, 2019.
The deciding factor: The April 2012 rating decision denying service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease became final as no timely notice of disagreement was received. The claim did not remain pending despite the denial and new and material evidence was not associated during the appellate period. The effective date is based on the date of receipt of the supplemental claim, which is April 16, 2019.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2020
- Citation
- A20015457
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,240 · Granted: 28% (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 A20015457.
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 Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding the evidence to be in approximate balance regarding its relation to an in-service injury.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and chose to pursue subsequently filed supplemental claims for the same conditions.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the veteran's back disability but remanded the case to reassess the rating.
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