The Board has determined that the evidence of record is credible to corroborate the veteran's account of his in-service stressor incident, and raises at least a reasonable doubt that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred. Coupled with the medical evidence and resolving all such doubts in the veteran's favor, as required by law, the grant of service connection for chronic depression and PTSD is warranted.
The deciding factor: The VA medical examiner and Dr. Morris established a link between the veteran's current symptoms and his claimed in-service rape, raising at least a reasonable doubt that the stressor occurred.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic depression, 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 3, 2008
- Citation
- 0821934
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 0821934.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for chronic depression.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted for the claim of entitlement to TDIU, which is being remanded. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for depression, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder with alcohol use disorder, severe, and PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners.
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