The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), effective November 13, 2016. The decision is based on the Veteran's consistent reporting of a drowning incident during active duty.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his involvement in a drug interdiction operation where he was ordered to open fire after one man jumped into the water and drowned, leading to continuous anxiety based on his role in the incident.
- Claimed conditions
- adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26017947
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 A26017947.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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