The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a neck disability, and an initial rating for anxiety disorder in excess of 30%. The Board found that there was no diagnosis of PTSD meeting DSM-IV criteria. For the neck disability, the Board concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current condition and service or the service-connected right upper arm disability. For the anxiety disorder, the Board noted that the Veteran's claim for an increased rating did not meet the criteria.
The deciding factor: The claims were denied as there was no diagnosis of PTSD meeting DSM-IV criteria, insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current neck condition and service or the service-connected right upper arm disability, and the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30% for anxiety disorder did not meet the criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Neck Disability, Anxiety Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2009
- Citation
- 0944427
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 0944427.
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: Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Neck Disability, and Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's active service and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2024 rating decision because the March 2024 rating decision was an initial decision granting service connection for anxiety disorder.
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