The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, finding that June 29, 2021, was the earliest possible date of claim.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a factually ascertainable increase in severity within one year prior to the filing date, and continuous pursuit of claims was not established.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis (back disability), residual scar of the left side of head, femoral radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, left knee limitation of extension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25051258
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 denied earlier effective dates for the award of service connection and denied increased ratings for various disabilities, but granted a separate rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy from October 20, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for adjustment disorder, bilateral pes planus, right knee limitation of extension, and left knee limitation of extension. The Board also granted service connection for a back condition as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial disability rating for left knee limitation of flexion and extension, as well as entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), due to additional development necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left and right knee locking, but remanded evaluations greater than 10 percent for bilateral knee limitation of flexion, limitation of extension, and scars.
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