The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and remanded several issues related to his service-connected conditions, including lumbar strain, major depressive disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve, and TDIU prior to May 22, 2015.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no evidence of a worsening of symptoms or an earlier claim for service connection that would warrant an earlier effective date. For the TDIU claim, the Board referred it to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to the Veteran's reported inability to work.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, major depressive disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the external cutaneous nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2024
- Citation
- 24000304
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for major depressive disorder is dismissed as moot because the earliest effective date was granted during the pendency of this appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left hip degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and knee conditions, and major depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected knee and ankle conditions. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
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