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.
The deciding factor: The VA psychologist's opinion supported by the Veteran’s consistent reports of exposure to traumatic events during his service provided sufficient evidence for a finding that his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his deployment experiences.
- Claimed conditions
- other trauma and stressor-related disorder
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2018
- Citation
- 18154054
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18154054.
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 Veteran's other trauma and stressor-related disorder is granted as service connected, and the right leg disorder is remanded for further review.
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