VA Claims Effective Dates
Published March 22, 2020
M21 III.iv.5.C.1.b.
General Effective Date Rule The general rule is that the effective date is assigned based on the date of receipt of claim or the date entitlement arose, whichever is later. Before applying the general rule, however, all information gathered during evidence review must be considered to determine whether a more specific effective date rule applies.
Note: Date of claim and effective date are not synonymous. Although the effective date is often the date of receipt of the claim, the effective date is determined by a variety of factors and is frequently not the same date as the date on which the claim is received
What the effective date looks like in the DECISION section of the rating:
Service connection for arthritis of the right ankle (claimed as ankle condition) is granted with an evaluation of 10 percent effective June 19, 2009
Service connection for degenerative arthritis, left knee is granted with an evaluation of 10 percent effective June 19, 2009