The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his left shoulder and elbow disabilities, as he did not continuously pursue these issues within one year of the initial denials.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not timely appeal the February 2008 and April 2014 rating decisions that denied his claims, and thus is already in receipt of the earliest possible effective date based on his August 9, 2023, intent to file.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis, left elbow, limitation of supination, left elbow strain (LOM, flexion)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25023173
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.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, as well as awards of special monthly compensation and Dependents' Educational Assistance.
- Dismissed
The veteran has withdrawn the appeals for service connection for plantar fasciitis, left elbow, and respiratory condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for back condition, left elbow, neck condition, and right shoulder as further development is needed.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, chronic kidney disease, cell bladder carcinoma, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal issues, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty for training.
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