Opinion ID: 176907
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Accrued Benefits Claim

Text: Winsett asserts that the VA erred in denying her accrued benefits claim. She contends that, if the VA had fulfilled its duty to assist under the Veterans’ Claims Assistance Act (“VCAA”), Jacks would have been diagnosed with PTSD during his lifetime. An accrued benefits WINSETT v. DVA 4 claim based on a veteran’s claim pending at the time of the veteran’s death must be based on “existing ratings or decisions or . . . based on evidence in the file at date of death,” 38 C.F.R. § 3.1000(a), and service connection for PTSD requires “medical evidence diagnosing the condition,” 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f). Therefore, to prove entitlement for accrued benefits in this case, Winsett had to show there was evidence in Jacks’ file that could indicate a PTSD diagnosis. The Veterans Court found there was no such evidence. The Veterans Court applied the correct law in affirming the Board’s rejection of her claim.