The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 30, 1997, for assignment of a total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The RO increased the disability ratings for PTSD and lumbar spine disability from January 30, 1997, resulting in a combined service-connected disability rating of 80 percent.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no evidence showing an earlier date on which it was factually ascertainable that the veteran was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities within one year before September 29, 1996.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, Dysthymic Disorder, Traumatic Arthritis of the Lumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 80%
- Decision date
- May 24, 2000
- Citation
- 0013715
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 0013715.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to March 7, 2022, while other claims were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for GERD as it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied service connection for ED due to a lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis. The issue of entitlement to service connection for anxiety is remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and GAD, as well as tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a heart disability, to include coronary artery disease (CAD), as secondary to the Veteran's anxiety and assigned a 70 percent rating from April 29, 2025. The Board also granted an initial 30 percent rating prior to that date.
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