The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection awards for various hip and shoulder conditions have been dismissed due to concurrent elections.,An earlier effective date claim for the right shoulder disability has also been dismissed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran filed multiple claims seeking earlier effective dates, which were adjudicated concurrently with each other. As a result, these appeals are being dismissed as prohibited concurrent elections.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), right hip flexion, right hip limitation of extension, right hip arthritis with limitation of abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation, left hip flexion, left hip limitation of extension, left hip arthritis with limitation of abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2026
- Citation
- A26009057
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 A26009057.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for his bilateral hip/thigh and right ankle conditions require additional medical examination to determine their current severity.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several claims for further action, including effective date determinations and service connection determinations. The Veteran's service records from Portsmouth Naval Hospital are requested to be obtained.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic), left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and cervical degenerative disc disease and arthritis, spinal stenosis, herniated C7-T1, intervertebral disc syndrome, status post spinal fusion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed and a new examination is required to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected left hip disability, as well as remand for an HLR informal conference.
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