The Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to August 31, 2013. The initial rating for ischemic heart disease remains denied but the criteria for a 60 percent rating have been met since April 23, 2013.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric condition resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, thought process disturbances, memory loss, and mood issues. The heart condition was manifested by a reduced workload capacity and normal LVEF without evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, ischemic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- June 11, 2020
- Citation
- 20040205
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 20040205.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as presumptively related to his service in the Gulf War, specifically aboard the USS Chanticleer and USS Mataco.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a heart disability prior to his death is granted as he was entitled to accrued benefits due to the September 1994 claim, which included ischemic heart disease, a covered herbicide disease.
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