The Board granted an effective date of April 7, 2009, for service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and scars, but denied increased ratings for the same conditions.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were supported by evidence showing that his conditions manifested prior to the receipt of his claim on April 7, 2009, thus entitling him to an effective date from that date. However, the evidence did not support higher ratings for these conditions.

Claimed conditions

rheumatoid arthritis, painful right thumb and left thumb and left ring finger scar, left thumb and left ring finger scar, right thumb scar

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 1, 2025

Citation

A25084466

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