The Board granted service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether it is related to in-service physical assault and harassment.
The deciding factor: The treating psychologist's opinion was given substantial probative weight due to its accurate characterization of the evidence, while the VA psychologist's opinion was based on an incorrect factual premise and thus afforded less weight.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- February 26, 2025
- Citation
- A25017512
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (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 A25017512.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder and depression, had its onset during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is denied. The effective date for the award of service connection remains June 22, 2018.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, cannabis use disorder, moderate; other stimulant use disorder, severe in sustained remission; and alcohol use disorder, moderate in early remission. The Board found that these conditions are proximately due to his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's psychiatric disability, which includes unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent due to the evidence showing occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, but generally functioning satisfactorily.
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