The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his anxiety reaction with PTSD and shell fragment wound scars, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the veteran's disability picture was most consistent with a 30 percent evaluation for anxiety reaction with PTSD, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment. The shell fragment wound scars were evaluated at 10 percent based on their current severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety Reaction with PTSD, Shell Fragment Wound Scars on the Left Upper Eyelid, Left Cheek, and Right Corner of the Mouth and Lower Lip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 10, 2000
- Citation
- 0020977
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0020977.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, with one disability rated at 60 percent (PTSD) and combined rating of 70 percent. The Board finds that he is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities alone.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction with PTSD warrants a rating of 50 percent, effective from September 9, 2004.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the reduction of the rating for anxiety reaction with PTSD from 30% to 10%, finding that there was not sufficient evidence of material improvement in the veteran's condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent prior to May 22, 2000. Service connection has also been established for heart disorder with hypertension as secondary to the service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with dyspepsia as secondary to the service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD.
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