The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) was denied because there were no verifiable stressors. The new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.
The deciding factor: The new evidence continued to lack a verified stressor, especially one from nearly 70 years ago.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including post-traumatic stress disorder)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19180596
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (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 19180596.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Board found that the veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was not manifested during his period of honorable military service and is not otherwise related to his honorable military service.
- Granted
The veteran's major depression is found to be related to events during his last period of service, and he was granted service connection for this condition. However, the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.
- Partly granted
The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a seizure disorder with dizziness, loss of memory and slurred speech due to new evidence. However, there is no direct medical evidence linking this condition to military service. The claim for PTSD was not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.