The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD. The veteran reported experiencing several combat and non-combat related stressors during his active duty, including witnessing a detonation while serving on the USS Dale in June 1965. The Board found that the veteran's PTSD is due to his verified in-service stressor.
The deciding factor: The evidence added since the July 1999 rating decision included VA outpatient and inpatient treatment records indicating the veteran has PTSD, service personnel records confirming he was stationed on the USS Dale during PROJECT SAILOR HAT in June 1965, and reports from NARA and USASCRUR corroborating that the ship witnessed a non-nuclear detonation.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 28, 2003
- Citation
- 0317940
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 0317940.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 27, 2019 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no earlier claim document in the claims file and the Veteran did not timely perfect an appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as a result of military sexual trauma (MST) that occurred during service. The Board found the Veteran's testimony and supporting evidence credible, including her VA and private treatment records.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted with an effective date of August 17, 2022. The decision also denies the Veteran's request for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) due to lack of need for aid and attendance or being housebound.
- Granted
The Board has granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the October 2024 rating decision for an increased PTSD rating and denied TDIU.
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