The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for increased ratings for his bilateral knee, bilateral feet, right hand, right wrist, and left finger disabilities.
The deciding factor: The earliest date as of which it is ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred was March 17, 2021, the date the Veteran submitted a formal claim for benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis w/ patellofemoral syndrome, left knee, Degenerative arthritis w/ patellofemoral syndrome, right knee, Degenerative arthritis, carpal bones of right hand w/ avulsion fracture, DIP joint, right index finger, Degenerative arthritis, right wrist, Pes planus w/ plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, right great toe and calcaneal spur, left foot, Degenerative arthritis, DIP and PIP joints, left index finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2024
- Citation
- A24062716
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 appeal seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, degenerative arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was dismissed due to non-compliance with claims processing rules.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding Social Security Administration records.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection due to untimely filings.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a neck injury, including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and history of spinal fusion, based on the evidence showing chronicity since service.
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