The Veteran's claims for service connection for adjustment disorder, hiatal hernia, and vertebral fracture were granted on June 2016 and November 2016 respectively. The Board found that the effective dates of March 23, 2016 are not earlier than these grants.,The Veteran's claims for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ and erectile dysfunction were denied as they were received after August 1, 2016.
The deciding factor: The effective dates for the service connection grants cannot be earlier than March 23, 2016 because the Veteran did not submit claims prior to this date. The Board found that the earliest possible effective dates are March 23, 2016.
- Claimed conditions
- adjustment disorder, hiatal hernia, vertebral fracture T8, residuals, spinal fusion, thoracic vertebrae and thoracic kyphosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23048993
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 23048993.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development of her exposure history and lack of adequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted with an effective date of March 15, 2017.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for erectile dysfunction and granted an earlier effective date of March 31, 2015, for a 50% evaluation of other specified trauma disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial disability rating for migraine headaches has been granted at 50 percent. The issue of service connection for hiatal hernia and esophagitis, related to PTSD, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.
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