The Board dismissed the claim for an increased rating for low back strain due to lack of jurisdiction. The claim of service connection for PTSD was reopened based on new and material evidence, but the Board found that the veteran did not meet the requirements for service connection under the old regulations. The effective date for the 10 percent rating for low back strain remains September 6, 1991.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the veteran's claim of an increased rating for low back strain was dismissed due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal. The claim of service connection for PTSD was reopened based on new and material evidence, but the Board found that the old regulations did not support the claim as there was no clear diagnosis linking current symptoms to in-service stressors.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2002
- Citation
- 0200390
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 0200390.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and GAD, as well as tinnitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
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