Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence of a stressor underlying the diagnosis.,An effective date prior to October 18, 2016, for the grant of service connection for left knee instability is denied because it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran’s left knee disability manifested with instability.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that an acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset during active service or is otherwise etiologically related to service. Credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor underlying the diagnosis of PTSD has not been presented.,During the appeal period, the Veteran’s right thumb degenerative arthritis did not manifest with instability.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (claimed as PTSD), Schizoaffective Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 22, 2019
- Citation
- A19000113
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,902 · Granted: 11% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A19000113.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD and Schizoaffective Disorder as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, the appellant did not become disabled due to schizoaffective disorder in the line of duty during a period of active duty for training or inactive duty for training, and the evidence does not support an in-service injury or disease that could be directly related to the later diagnosed conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and PDD with major depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of PTSD or establish that these conditions began during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA needs to obtain a more detailed and thoroughly explained medical opinion regarding the Veteran's need for personal care services.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD has rendered him housebound in fact since February 1, 2025. The Board granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(2).
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