The Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder that meets the criteria for service connection, including PTSD. The VA examiner did not diagnose PTSD and other mental health professionals who treated him also did not diagnose PTSD.
The deciding factor: There is no diagnosis of PTSD in the record, which is required to establish service connection for this condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment reaction, Cognitive Disorder NOS, Polysubstance Abuse
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1518125
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1518125.
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 Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for his depressive disorder NOS with anxiety and polysubstance abuse was denied. The claim for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) was also denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with polysubstance abuse and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment warranting a higher disability rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of service connection (October 26, 2007), and his TDIU claim is granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's PTSD with secondary polysubstance abuse is rated at 70 percent from December 31, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
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