The Board grants an effective date of January 23, 2011 for the grant of service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, various right hand disabilities, migraines, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The deciding factor: The evidence shows that relevant official service department records existed but were not associated with the claims file at the time of the initial denial in February 2013. These records support the Veteran's claims for these conditions, thus warranting an earlier effective date based on reconsideration under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c).

Claimed conditions

thoracic spondylosis, chondromalacia patella, right knee, degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic with limitation and painful motion of the right index finger, degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic with limitation and painful motion of the right long finger, degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic with limitation and painful motion of the thumb, degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic with limitation and painful motion of the right ring finger, limitation of motion of the right ring or little finger, characterized as degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic with limitation of motion of the right ring or little finger, migraines, obstructive sleep apnea

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 3, 2025

Citation

A25009522

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine