The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left shoulder strain, degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.
The deciding factor: The earliest effective date for each condition was July 10, 2020, the date on which the supplemental claim was filed, as the May 8, 2018 rating decision became final and no valid opt-in to the modernized review system was received within the required timeframe.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder strain, degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25058395
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 grant of service connection and granted initial 40 percent ratings for left upper extremity CTS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's award of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from April 15, 2017, solely based on his unspecified anxiety disorder. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) housebound status, but dismissed the claims for initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service connection for left shoulder strain, labral tear, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and tendinitis was granted, while the effective date prior to November 11, 2023, for migraine headaches was denied.
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