The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 21, 2017, or any other date prior to February 9, 2018, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was dismissed as it lacked legal merit.
The deciding factor: The May 2020 rating decision granted TDIU and assigned an effective date of February 9, 2018, which is the earliest date factually ascertainable for the increase in disability based on the evidence of record.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25057167
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.