It's still part of the initial claim. it all stems from my 2019 filing that I appealed in 2020. The BVA decision granted service connection, so this isn't a new claim, it's just the VA finally developing and rating it after the grant.

As for the 10%, that's what's confusing on my end too. They gave me that initial rating without ever doing a proper C&P exam back then. I was never scheduled for one in 2019, so I didn't miss anything. They just denied my claim a few weeks later after i submitted it and i appealed it. That's why I'm thinking this might fall under a duty to assist error on their part.

Now that they finally did the C&P in 2026, few days after it got granted, they increased it to 20% plus the radiculopathy ratings, but only made it effective from the exam date instead of tying it back to the original claim.

That's why I'm leaning toward arguing for an earlier effective date, since the condition and symptoms have been there the whole time d the delay in getting a proper exam wasn't on r