The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, previously denied as PTSD, is granted. The new evidence received within one year of the denial includes a VA psychologist's opinion linking the current diagnosis to in-service stressors. Service connection is established based on the occurrence of a fear-of-hostile-military-terrorist activity stressor.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's reported in-service traumatic experiences, including seeing dead Viet Cong soldiers and containers with dead service members, are consistent with his Vietnam service and supported by a VA psychologist’s opinion linking these events to his current psychiatric disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disability (other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18150696
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 18150696.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, is related to his service in Vietnam. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted as his PTSD is now considered service-connected.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left leg disability is reopened, and the appeal is granted.
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