The Veteran's claim for fibromyalgia was denied an earlier effective date due to the lack of new and material evidence prior to March 15, 2016.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied an earlier effective date due to the lack of new and material evidence prior to April 6, 2016.
The deciding factor: Both conditions were not granted service connection based on a final denial before the liberalizing regulations regarding presumptive service connection for fibromyalgia and PTSD with major depressive disorder took effect.,The Veteran's claims were denied as they did not meet the criteria for new and material evidence prior to the effective dates of the liberalizing regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- fibromyalgia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 29, 2026
- Citation
- A26008726
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 A26008726.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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