The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, coronary artery disease secondary to PTSD, nicotine dependence due to inservice tobacco use, cardiac disability due to inservice tobacco use, and pulmonary disorder due to inservice tobacco use. The decision was based on a finding that there were no confirmed stressors in Vietnam and insufficient evidence of a diagnosed PTSD.
The deciding factor: The veteran's reported stressors were not verified, and the VA examinations did not support a diagnosis of PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Coronary Artery Disease, Nicotine Dependence due to Inservice Tobacco Use, Cardiac Disability due to Inservice Tobacco Use, Pulmonary Disorder due to Inservice Tobacco Use
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 18, 2001
- Citation
- 0113998
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 0113998.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to March 7, 2022, while other claims were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and GAD, as well as tinnitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
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