The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and substance abuse disorders were not incurred or aggravated by military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and schizophrenia), Substance abuse disorders
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2013
- Citation
- 1331525
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 1331525.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, substance abuse disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, as well as substance abuse disorders. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service stressors and continued symptoms post-service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse disorders, is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service. His claim for service connection is granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and noting that the Veteran's schizophrenia is not related to his military service.
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