The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other anxiety/depression disorders, related to combat stressors during active duty.,Service connection was also granted for a lower back disability, linked to the Veteran's in-service injury while deployed. ,However, the claim for secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) due to service-connected conditions or as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was sufficient evidence to support a finding of current disability and a nexus between the Veteran's in-service stressors and his current mental health symptoms, including PTSD and anxiety/depression disorders.,For the lower back condition, the Board accepted the Veteran's testimony regarding his combat experience and subsequent treatment. The Board also found credible the private medical opinions linking the Veteran's current back disability to his service.,Regarding ED, there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or connection between the Veteran's psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and any medication used for it.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder), Lower Back Disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2026
- Citation
- A26035835
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 A26035835.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PVD, denied service connection for GERD, right knee disability, and lower back disability, and dismissed the claim of service connection for tinnitus due to lack of appealable final decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for hemorrhoids and remanded the issues of service connection for a left Achilles tendon disability, sleep disturbance, lower back disability, and left hip disability due to incomplete records.
- Dismissed
The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for the listed conditions, and the Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for service connection for allergies, bilateral hip disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, lower back disability, and right foot, second toe disability due to untimely filing of the appeal requests.
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