The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, anxiety disorder, alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, cocaine use disorder, and opiate use disorder, but denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The deciding factor: There was an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, leading to a grant based on the benefit-of-the-doubt rule. For OSA, there was no nexus found between the current diagnosis and military service or toxic exposure risk activities.

Claimed conditions

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Anxiety Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder, Cannabis Use Disorder, Cocaine Use Disorder, Opiate Use Disorder

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 30, 2025

Citation

A25094649

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