The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as a TDIU prior to May 28, 2015.
The deciding factor: The earliest date of receipt of an application for service connection was May 28, 2015, which is also the date that the Veteran's claims were reopened and granted. The evidence did not support a higher rating or earlier effective dates for the veteran's conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- left knee instability, right knee instability, right knee limitation of flexion, right knee limitation of extension, GERD, bilateral pes planus, low back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right tarsal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2024
- Citation
- 24032651
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 Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- 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 denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and granted initial 40 percent ratings for left upper extremity CTS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) housebound status, but dismissed the claims for initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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