The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 9, 2016 for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no indication of a prior claim. The effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been assigned based on the date of the initial claim.,An earlier effective date of March 9, 2015 was granted for left leg amputation below the knee and SMC based on anatomical loss of the left lower extremity below the knee as the Veteran's claims encompassed these conditions at the time he filed his April 2016 claim.,An earlier effective date of March 9, 2015 was granted for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease based on liberalizing legislation regarding herbicide agent exposure. The earliest effective date is one year prior to the receipt of his intent to file.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 30, 2016 for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease was denied as there is no indication that this condition existed at the time he filed his April 2016 claim.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's claims encompassed the conditions in question and granted earlier effective dates based on liberalizing legislation regarding herbicide agent exposure.

Claimed conditions

bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, left leg amputation below the knee, right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, anatomical loss of left lower extremity below the knee

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 27, 2020

Citation

A20016088