The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than a substance use disorder and a substance use disorder, as secondary to the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service, and his substance use disorder is secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder other than substance use disorder, Substance use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25088518
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 878 · Granted: 46% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A25088518.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a substance use disorder, finding that the Veteran's disorders are not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as PTSD and/or mood disorders, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service. The primary diagnosis found was alcohol use disorder, which is not compensable under VA law.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, substance-induced depressive disorder, and substance-induced anxiety disorder.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and substance use disorder as secondary to GAD.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.