The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was initially denied in November 2023, but granted with an effective date of July 18, 2024. The Board has now determined that the correct effective date should be July 13, 2023, based on continuous pursuit and the Veteran's earlier diagnosis.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was in approximate balance as to whether the PTSD first manifested before the original claim, and granted an effective date of July 13, 2023, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 24, 2026
- Citation
- A26026034
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 A26026034.
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 a TDIU effective as of September 25, 2020, but not earlier. The Veteran's marginal income and service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Dismissed
The appeals for increased disability rating and service connection have been withdrawn by the appellant.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD), has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to November 15, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating and granted an effective date of November 15, 2018 for the award of a 70 percent rating.
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