CAVC Case 94-0206: PTSD

CAVCReal U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decision · October 10, 1995 · NEBEKER, Chief Judge

This is a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims — the federal court that reviews Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions, one level above the Board. Court decisions can vacate, reverse, or affirm what the Board did.

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RatingMonthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA)
10%$180.42
20%$356.66
30%$552.47
40%$795.84
50%$1,132.90
60%$1,435.02
70%$1,808.45
80%$2,102.15
90%$2,362.30
100%$3,938.58
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Outcome
Reversed / Dismissed / Vacated / Remanded
Decision Date
October 10, 1995
Judge
NEBEKER, Chief Judge
Service Era
Not specified

Conditions Claimed

PTSDBackHearing LossTinnitusHipEye

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Issues on Appeal

PTSDBackHearing LossTinnitusHipEye

Why It Was Decided This Way

A November 1992 BVA decision determined that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the hearing-loss claim, citing the new medical evidence and a change in 38 C.

In the December 23, 1993, BVA decision here on appeal, the Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his increased right-eye rating.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, reasoning that although the opinions of Drs.

The Secretary must reopen a previously and finally disallowed claim when "new and material evidence" is presented or secured with respect to the basis for the denial of that claim.

First, it must determine whether the evidence presented or secured since the prior final disallowance of the claim is new and material "when viewed in the context of all the evidence, both new and old", Colvin v.

171, 174 (1991), and when "the credibility of the [new] evidence" 9 is presumed, Justus v.

If the evidence is new and material, the second step is that the Board must then review it on the merits "in the context of the other evidence of record" to determine whether the prior disposition of the claim should be altered.

A Board determination as to whether evidence is "new and material" is a question of law subject to de novo review by this Court under 38 U.

Authorities Cited

Abernathy v. PrincipiAllday v. BrownBlackburn v. BrownColvin v. DerwinskiDamrel v. BrownDarrow v. DerwinskiDuran v. BrownFletcher v. DerwinskiGabrielson v. BrownGilbert v. DerwinskiHatlestad v. DerwinskiIn Russell v. PrincipiIn Talbert v. BrownJustus v. PrincipiLittke v. DerwinskiLizaso v. BrownManio v. DerwinskiOlson v. BrownQuarles v. DerwinskiSchmidt v. BrownSee Caluza v. BrownSee Chavarria v. BrownSee Masors v. DerwinskiSee Suttmann v. BrownSee Thurber v. BrownSimon v. DerwinskiSpencer v. BrownTighe v. BrownWillis v. Brown

Regulations Cited (38 CFR / 38 USC)

38 CFR 2.7 (1994)38 CFR 3.105(a)38 CFR 3.105(a) (1994)38 CFR 3.159 (1994)38 CFR 3.385 (1990)38 CFR 3.400 (1994)38 USC 111038 USC 50338 USC 5107(a)38 USC 510838 USC 7104(d)(1)38 USC 7261(a)(1)38 USC 7261(a)(3)38 USC 7261(a)(4)

Denial Type

Credibility|No Nexus|Not New Material|Duty To Assist|Cue

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Referral disclosure: VetAid earns a referral fee if you become a paying REE Medical client through this link — it helps keep this site free. REE Medical provides paid medical evidence; it is not a law firm, VSO, or claims agent, and VetAid has not independently verified its services. VSOs and VA-accredited representatives will help you file your claim at no cost, and no one can guarantee a rating increase.