The Board denied an earlier effective date for the 30 percent disability rating assigned to the left shoulder, finding that there was no factually ascertainable increase in severity of the condition within one year prior to the August 2023 claim.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's claim for an increased rating on VA Form 21-526EZ represented a new claim and not continuous pursuit, thus denying an earlier effective date.

Claimed conditions

left shoulder, AC joint sprain

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 22, 2025

Citation

A25091448

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