The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, polysubstance use disorder, neck and back disabilities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions determined that the claimed stressors did not meet the criteria for PTSD under DSM-5, and the Veteran's symptoms were better explained by opioid abuse disorders and cocaine use disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), Polysubstance use disorder, Neck disability, Back disability, Tinnitus, Bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 15, 2021
- Citation
- 21074533
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 21074533.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.
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