The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death, leading to dementia. The Board finds that the evidence supports the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: PTSD was a contributory cause of the Veteran's cause of death due to VA's own study indicating an increased likelihood of dementia in Veterans with PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Sacroiliac injury, Impairment of the right thigh, Scar, right lateral lower leg, Scars, donor site, left thigh and buttocks, Tinnitus, Scar, right anterior lower leg, Five scars, right lateral thigh, Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- May 12, 2017
- Citation
- 1716169
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 1716169.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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