The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD, TDIU prior to April 21, 2009, and service connection for residuals of poisoned water exposure at Camp Lejeune are all denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date is April 21, 2009, due to the reopening of his claim for PTSD.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's original claim for PTSD was denied in September 1994 and became final. He filed a new claim on April 21, 2009, which was granted with an effective date of that same day.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia, Painful callus and pain along the arch of the left foot, Painful callus and pain along the arch of the right foot
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 11, 2017
- Citation
- 1744997
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1744997.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider evidence submitted after the October 2024 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's GERD is presumed to have existed prior to service, but there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was not aggravated by service. The Board has requested an examination to determine if the Veteran's GERD had its onset during or is otherwise etiologically related to active-duty service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is granted a 60 percent rating effective November 14, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms are severe and productive of considerable impairment of health.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is related to his active duty service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia was restored to a 30 percent evaluation, and an increased rating for the condition is granted.
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