The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021 for service connection for IBS and GERD, cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right wrist sprain, lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathies, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The deciding factor: The proper effective date for service connection is the date the intent to file a claim was received by VA, as supported by the Veteran's intent form and subsequent claims and examinations.

Claimed conditions

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Cervical Strain, Left Upper Extremity Radiculopathy, Right Wrist Sprain, Lumbosacral Strain, Right Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, Left Lower Extremity Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy, Tinnitus, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 24, 2025

Citation

A25016352

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