The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (leukemia) because the earliest possible communication that could be construed as a claim was received by VA on August 31, 2015. The December 2006 rating decision is final and the award of service connection for leukemia is based upon the August 31, 2015 request to reopen the previously denied claim.
The deciding factor: The effective date for an award of disability compensation based on an original claim cannot be earlier than the date of receipt of a new claim or reopening of a previously denied claim.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lymphocytic leukemia (leukemia)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20048341
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 20048341.
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 connection for leukemia has been granted. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and an increased evaluation for persistent depressive disorder are remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (leukemia) due to lack of new and material evidence within one year of notification of the December 2006 rating decision, which is considered final.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (leukemia) is denied because the December 2006 rating decision was not appealed within one year and thus became final. The Board found no evidence to rebut the presumption of regularity regarding notification.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.