The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression. The most probative evidence does not establish that the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD or that his current psychiatric disabilities are causally related to his active service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5, concluding instead that diagnoses of other specified anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder in full remission were appropriate. The examiner found the Veteran's allegations concerning combat-related stressors not fully credible and noted that his current psychiatric symptoms were due to post-service legal problems, family issues, and financial stress.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, Depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19188675
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 19188675.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
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