The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder, moderate cocaine use disorder, severe marijuana use disorder, is granted as service connected. PTSD was denied due to lack of a valid diagnosis.
The deciding factor: PTSD was not diagnosed at any point during the pendency of the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, unspecified schizophrenia, other psychotic disorder, moderate cocaine use disorder, severe marijuana use disorder), PTSD, Left knee arthritis, Right knee contusion, Sore feet with right and left foot condition, Thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and arthritis with lower back condition and lumbar muscle strain, Residuals of left lower leg (nerve impairment) and left ankle traumatic injury
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2026
- Citation
- A26005957
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 A26005957.
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 of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
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