In a method for efficient retransmission of data, symbol accumulation is used to retransmit a packet received in error at a lower energy-per-bit level concurrently in the same frame with a new packet. The destination device receives the data transmission and retransmission, demodulates the signal, and separates the received data into the new and retransmitted packet. The destination device then accumulates the energy of the retransmitted packet with the energy already accumulated for the packet received in error and decodes the accumulated packet. The accumulation of the additional energy provided by the subsequent retransmissions improves the probability of a correct decoding. The throughput rate can be improved since the packet received in error is retransmitted concurrently with the transmission of the new data packet. The capacity is maximized since the retransmission of the packet received in error is at a lower energy level than that of the new packet. The method includes puncturing the code symbols of a data packet for transmission in accordance with a first puncturing pattern. If decoding of the punctured transmitted packet of data is unsuccessful, a negative acknowledgement is received at the source device and the code symbols of the data packet are then punctured in accordance with a second pattern for transmission in response to the receipt of the negative acknowledgement.