The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for ALS was denied as the earliest possible effective date is July 1, 2024.
The deciding factor: The effective date cannot be earlier than the date of receipt of the intent to file a claim (July 1, 2024), which is later than the date entitlement arose.
- Claimed conditions
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2026
- Citation
- A26019178
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 A26019178.
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 PLS, a variant of ALS, is granted as service connected. The Board found sufficient evidence to presume that PLS developed due to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability, loss of use of extremities, or other qualifying conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's ALS was granted service connection throughout the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran was found to be unable to self-sustain in the community due to ALS, requiring substantial assistance with activities of daily living including grooming, bathing, and dressing. The Board granted Tier 2 benefits under the PCAFC program.
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