The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of varicose veins of the left lower extremity was denied as there is no indication that there was any earlier pending claim for service connection for this condition which was not denied by a final rating decision.,Service connection for leg edema was denied as there is no evidence of a separate and distinct diagnosis of this condition.
The deciding factor: The effective date for the award of service connection for varicose veins of the left lower extremity could not be earlier than May 12, 2023, because the Veteran did not submit any valid claim to reopen prior to that date and no new and material evidence was received within one year of a previous denial.,There is no evidence of a separate diagnosis of leg edema in the record. The Veteran's symptoms are attributed to his service-connected varicose veins.
- Claimed conditions
- Varicose veins of the left lower extremity, Varicose veins of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2026
- Citation
- A26001760
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 A26001760.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable evaluations for right knee scars and residuals of right knee injury post-operative arthroscopy, extension have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has also been dismissed.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins of both lower extremities, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service or any service-connected disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities have been granted. The Board also dismissed the claim for a left shoulder disability, as it was withdrawn by the Veteran during his August 2022 hearing. The neck disability and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity secondary to the neck disability are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's request for a restoration of the 40 percent disability rating for his service-connected varicose veins of the left lower extremity is granted. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for this condition is remanded due to lack of proper procedural steps in reducing the rating.
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.