The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Bell's palsy, as the earliest possible effective date was already granted on March 1, 2023.

The deciding factor: The January 2015 and April 2017 rating decisions that initially denied service connection became final. No new evidence was submitted within a year of these denials. The claim was reopened and granted effective from the date of receipt of the intent to file a claim, which is March 1, 2023.

Claimed conditions

Bell's palsy

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

March 7, 2025

Citation

A25021295

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