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Whole decision: Denied

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart murmur, PTSD, and dysthymic disorder with panic attacks and a personality disorder (claimed as psychotic episodes). The decision found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a heart murmur. For PTSD and dysthymic disorder, the Board noted that there was no confirmed in-service stressor and that the veteran did not engage in combat with an enemy, making it difficult to establish service connection based on combat exposure.

The deciding factor: The evidence submitted since the previous denial did not provide new or material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a heart murmur. For PTSD and dysthymic disorder, there was no confirmed in-service stressor and the veteran did not engage in combat with an enemy, making it difficult to establish service connection based on combat exposure.

Claimed conditions
Heart Murmur, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dysthymic Disorder with Panic Attacks and a Personality Disorder (claimed as Psychotic Episodes)
How they argued it
Not specified
Exposure basis
None
Rating
Not verified here — check the original decision
Decision date
November 15, 2000
Citation
0029912

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 0029912.

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.

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