The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as 'other trauma and stressor-related disorder,' is related to service.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in equipoise, therefore doubt is resolved in the Veteran's favor.
- Claimed conditions
- other trauma and stressor-related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2016
- Citation
- 1637869
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1637869.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder and other trauma and stressor-related disorder. The claim of service connection for a sleep disorder is remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized as other trauma and stressor-related disorder with a secondary diagnosis of persistent depressive disorder, has not met the criteria for an increased rating beyond the current 30 percent assigned.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need to verify a claimed in-service stressor related to witnessing the death of a fellow sailor during drills while on board the ship, which is necessary for service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as other trauma and stressor-related disorder, due to exposure to dead bodies and the smell of burning human flesh during deployments in Southwest Asia and Somalia.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.