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 assigned
- None in this 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1744997.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is related to his active duty service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection.
- 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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