The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for Dercum's disease affecting various nerves in the Veteran's lower and upper extremities, as well as his right and left upper extremities. The effective date assigned is March 3, 2014.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not submit any claims or evidence regarding these conditions prior to March 3, 2014, which was the date of submission of a claim for service connection related to Dercum's disease and associated nerve problems. The effective date cannot be earlier than this date as there is no indication that he had filed such claims before.
- Claimed conditions
- Dercum's disease affecting the ilio-inguinal nerve of the right lower extremity (RLE), Dercum's disease affecting the obturator nerve of the RLE, Dercum's disease affecting the external cutaneous nerve of the RLE, Dercum's disease affecting the femoral nerve of the RLE, Dercum's disease affecting the sciatic nerve of the RLE, Dercum's disease affecting the ilio-inguinal nerve of the left lower extremity (LLE), Dercum's disease affecting the obturator nerve of the LLE, Dercum's disease affecting the external cutaneous nerve of the LLE, Dercum's disease affecting the femoral nerve of the LLE, Dercum's disease affecting the sciatic nerve of the LLE, Dercum's disease affecting the right upper extremity (RUE), Dercum's disease affecting the left upper extremity (LUE)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 29, 2023
- Citation
- 23047519
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 23047519.
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).
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