The veteran's effective date for service connection of loss of use of both lower extremities was granted an earlier date of April 6, 2015. The Board found continuous pursuit of the claim since that date.
The deciding factor: The Board determined there was continuous pursuit of the claim dating back to April 6, 2015, and resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- loss of use of both lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25004697
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 696 · Granted: 63% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25004697.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded all issues except for the ones related to SMC, SAH, and earlier effective date for service connection. The Veteran is granted SMC under certain conditions, certificate of eligibility for SAH, and increased rate of SMC at a specific rate.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of January 21, 2022 for service connection for loss of use of both lower extremities and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance with a higher level of care.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 24, 2020, and October 8, 2020, by Flat River Family Dentistry due to lack of prior authorization from VA and the absence of a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(1) due to her service-connected disabilities, which include loss of use of both lower extremities and multiple upper extremity weaknesses. She is in need of regular aid and attendance as a result of these conditions.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.