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Whole decision: Denied

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and major depression in January 1989, which became final. The veteran did not appeal this decision. The RO reopened his claim based on new and material evidence received after October 11, 2001, and granted service connection for PTSD and major depression with a 100% disability rating effective from October 11, 2001.

The deciding factor: The veteran's prior denial of service connection for PTSD in January 1989 became final because he did not appeal it. The claim was reopened based on new evidence received after the effective date of the reopening (October 11, 2001), and a grant of service connection with an effective date from that day.

Claimed conditions
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depression
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating
Not verified here — check the original decision
Decision date
February 15, 2008
Citation
0805413

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 0805413.

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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