The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as a claim for service connection for cervical spine disability.

The deciding factor: The denial was based on the fact that the initial claim for back disability was denied in 1986 and no new and material evidence or clear and unmistakable error was shown to warrant an earlier effective date. The Veteran's current claims were filed after a year from the prior denial, thus the earliest possible effective date is February 14, 2020.

Claimed conditions

Degenerative disc disease other than IVDS, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Left lower extremity radiculopathy

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 15, 2025

Citation

A25088618

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