The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his service connection awards of right upper extremity muscle weakness, left upper extremity muscle weakness, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective dates are March 23, 2017.,The Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim prior to March 23, 2017, for any of these disabilities.
The deciding factor: There were no formal claims or informal communications received prior to March 23, 2017, regarding the service connection awards. The earliest possible effective dates are therefore March 23, 2017.
- Claimed conditions
- Right upper extremity muscle weakness, Left upper extremity muscle weakness, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy, Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23050305
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 23050305.
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 Veteran does not have a service-connected disability resulting in anatomical loss or use of both hands, and therefore is not eligible for assistance in acquiring necessary special home adaptations.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of July 15, 2016 for service connection for multiple sclerosis and related conditions but denied earlier effective dates for chronic constipation and swallowing difficulties.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his permanent and total service-connected disability affecting both lower extremities, which precludes locomotion without the aid of assistive devices.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for major depressive disorder, cerebrovascular accident with left lower extremity muscle weakness, and left upper extremity muscle weakness have been granted effective from November 22, 2017.
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.