The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates related to various left and right hip, knee, shoulder, and other conditions as they were freestanding claims not continuously pursued from the initial rating decisions.

The deciding factor: The Veteran did not continuously pursue a claim for an earlier effective date from the initial rating decision granting service connection or increased ratings for his disabilities.

Claimed conditions

left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, carotid stenosis (cardiac) and aortic atherosclerosis, erectile dysfunction, type 2 diabetes mellitus, limitation of abduction of the left hip, limitation of flexion of the left hip, limitation of extension of the left hip, limitation of flexion of the right hip, limitation of extension of the right hip, limitation of abduction and rotation of the right hip, left knee instability, left knee meniscal tear, limitation of flexion of the left knee, limitation of extension of the left knee, limitation of flexion of the right knee, right knee instability

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 16, 2025

Citation

A25108420

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine