The Board dismissed the claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent, prior to July 9, 2021, for PTSD; an earlier effective date than July 9, 2021, for SMC(s); and an earlier effective date than December 29, 2016, for DEA benefits.
The deciding factor: The August 2021 rating decision was not an initial decision for the purposes of the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) with respect to the claim for an increased rating for PTSD; therefore, the decision's denial of the increased rating claim could not be appealed by the November 2021 VA Form 10182.
- Claimed conditions
- Not specified in this decision
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25048502
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.