The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) because the claim was received more than a year after separation from service, and no informal claim existed prior to March 2015.
The deciding factor: The claim for service connection for ALS was filed more than one year after the Veteran's discharge from active duty, which is not within the exception provided in the regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 9, 2020
- Citation
- A20016651
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 A20016651.
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 PLS, a variant of ALS, is granted as service connected. The Board found sufficient evidence to presume that PLS developed due to service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability, loss of use of extremities, or other qualifying conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's ALS was granted service connection throughout the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for ALS was denied as the earliest possible effective date is July 1, 2024.
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