The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of facial scars, finding that no formal or informal claim was submitted prior to January 8, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were no claims filed before January 8, 2018, and thus denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date.
- Claimed conditions
- Facial scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21070058
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 21070058.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for acne and facial scars, finding that the Veteran did not meet his burden of showing an in-service aggravation of preexisting conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of facial scars to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's skin disorder, including considering his in-service skin complaints and treatment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in that the AOJ failed to obtain service treatment records.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's effective date for service connection of PTSD is granted as May 29, 2006, but no earlier. The claims for service connection for digestive disorder, eating disorder, acne, facial scars, and depression are remanded.
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.