The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD based on his reported stressor and established by VA psychologists, and thus service connection is granted. For the heart disorder, the case is remanded as further evidence is needed to determine if there was herbicide agent exposure during service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's reported stressor from his time aboard the USS O'Hare was consistent with the circumstances of his service and related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, thus meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. For the heart disorder, the case is remanded as further evidence is needed to determine if there was herbicide agent exposure during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Heart disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18112666
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 18112666.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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