The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 26, 1998 for a 100 percent rating for PTSD, finding that the earliest possible date for the increase to a 100 percent rating was January 26, 1998, which is exactly one year prior to receipt of his reopened claim for an increased rating. The Board also found that there was no indication in the claims file of the veteran having filed a substantive appeal within one year of July 1, 1997.
The deciding factor: The effective date for an increase in disability compensation is determined based on when it is ascertainable that an increase has occurred. In this case, the earliest possible date for the increase to a 100 percent rating was January 26, 1998, which is exactly one year prior to receipt of his reopened claim for an increased rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2002
- Citation
- 0217317
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 0217317.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 27, 2019 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no earlier claim document in the claims file and the Veteran did not timely perfect an appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as a result of military sexual trauma (MST) that occurred during service. The Board found the Veteran's testimony and supporting evidence credible, including her VA and private treatment records.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted with an effective date of August 17, 2022. The decision also denies the Veteran's request for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) due to lack of need for aid and attendance or being housebound.
- Granted
The Board has granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the October 2024 rating decision for an increased PTSD rating and denied TDIU.
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