The Board has withdrawn the issue of ischemic heart disease due to the Veteran's request. The claim for PTSD is granted as there is at least equipoise evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors. Service connection for lung disability is granted based on new and material evidence.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established for PTSD based on credible stressors related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, including exposure to the deaths of friendly soldiers and witnessing the massacre of South Korean Special Forces aboard the ship. The Veteran's lung disability claim was granted as there is new and material evidence supporting a diagnosis of COPD due to asbestos exposure in service.
- Claimed conditions
- ischemic heart disease, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), lung disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1703398
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 1703398.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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