The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic blood vessel disorder affecting the brain is granted. The effective date of this decision is March 6, 2003.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD with depression is dismissed.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports a finding that the Veteran’s ischemic blood vessel disorder and related conditions are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sleep apnea, headaches, and PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic Blood Vessel Disorder (Brain), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19128503
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,500 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19128503.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been withdrawn by his authorized representative.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, coronary artery disease, and service connection for sinusitis, low back disorder, neuropathy of the hands and feet, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The VA examinations indicated that the current conditions are not related to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination for his sleep disorder. The claims will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed TBI, cognitive disorder, including memory loss and attention deficit disorder, as well as an increased rating for PTSD with depression. The AOJ will consider all evidence since the December 2013 statement of the case during readjudication.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.