The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to his service-connected stressor related disorder. The claim for DIC benefits under 1318 is dismissed as moot because the Veteran was not in receipt of a 100% evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected stressor related disorder, unspecified trauma, contributed substantially or materially to his death and caused debilitating effects on his health.
- Claimed conditions
- stressor related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 14, 2026
- Citation
- A26003571
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 A26003571.
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 granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which include stressor related disorder, prostate cancer residuals, surgical scar, and erectile dysfunction. The combined disability rating is at least 80 percent.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stressor related disorder (claimed as a mental condition) secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder is dismissed due to the grant of service connection for depressive disorder in a previous decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified trauma, a stressor related disorder, and major depressive disorder, is granted. The appeal regarding the initial rating in excess of 20 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist prior to February 16, 2017 and from April 1, 2017, as well as the initial rating in excess of 30 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of right wrist prior to September 1, 2016 and from November 1, 2016, is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his claim for an increased rating for stressor related disorder was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.
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