The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for increased ratings and a separate rating, as there was no evidence of worsening symptoms within one year prior to the claim filing.

The deciding factor: There is no evidence of a worsening of disability in the year prior to the September 10, 2024, claim, and the earliest possible effective date was assigned.

Claimed conditions

left fifth cranial nerve, status post lower mouth surgery and lower lip biopsy, with numbness, right fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal), status post lower mouth surgery with numbness, scar, inside lower mouth

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 18, 2025

Citation

A25109421

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