The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder NOS with alcohol dependence. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD related to service and concluded the Veteran's current mental health issues are secondary to his pre-existing substance abuse disorder, which began prior to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depressive Disorder NOS, Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia, Bipolar Disorder, Alcohol Dependence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20001160
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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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.