The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various disabilities, finding that the earliest possible date was January 9, 2020.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran submitted a completed application within one year of his intent to file prior to January 9, 2020, and he was diagnosed with the disabilities after this date.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder with bipolar I disorder, Painful motion, left long finger, status post boxer fracture, Painful motion, left index finger, status post boxer fracture, Painful motion, left little finger, status post boxer fracture, Painful motion, left ring finger, status post boxer fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25046491
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of the service connection claims for various conditions based on new and relevant evidence, but remanded several claims for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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