POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

Summary

The veteran, who served from May 1972 to May 1975, appeals the denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as depression, anxiety, smoking, drug dependency, and alcohol dependency. The Board reviewed the evidence of record at the time of the last AOJ decision, including a November 2025 private psychological evaluation and a December 2000 VA examination. The veteran reported experiencing a "blanket party" and other assaults during service, leading to disciplinary issues and substance use. While service treatment records were negative for psychiatric complaints, service personnel records noted minor infractions and non-judicial punishments for striking another man and failing to obey orders. The December 2000 VA examiner opined the condition was aggravated by service, stemming from an abusive childhood. A November 2025 private evaluation by Dr. S.J. diagnosed unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, cannabis use disorder, other stimulant use disorder, and alcohol use disorder, finding them mutually exacerbating. Dr. S.J. opined the psychiatric disorder started in service and continued to the present, noting the in-service stressors and disciplinary actions contributed significantly to the development of the current mental disorder, despite a normal enlistment examination and childhood adversity. The Board resolved doubt in the veteran's favor, finding the acquired psychiatric disorder related to service, and the substance use disorders proximately due to the psychiatric disorder. Service connection for all claimed conditions is granted.

Rationale

Private psychological evaluation diagnosed unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.; Veteran reported in-service stressors including physical/verbal abuse and disciplinary actions.; Resolving doubt in veteran's favor, Board found condition related to service.

Full Decision Text

Citation Nr: A26034386
Decision Date: 04/14/26	Archive Date: 04/14/26

DOCKET NO. 251218-605143
DATE: April 14, 2026

ORDER

Service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder; cannabis use disorder, moderate; other stimulate use disorder, severe, in sustained remission; and alcohol use disorder, moderate, in early remission is granted.

FINDING OF FACT

Resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, his current acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, is related to his military service, and his currently diagnosed cannabis use disorder, moderate; other stimulate use disorder, severe, in sustained remission; and alcohol use disorder, moderate, in early remission are proximately due to such acquired psychiatric disorder.

CONCLUSION OF LAW

The criteria for service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder; cannabis use disorder, moderate; other stimulate use disorder, severe, in sustained remission; and alcohol use disorder, moderate, in early remission have been met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.310.

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION

The Veteran served on active duty from May 1972 to May 1975. 

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a rating decision issued in December 2024 by a Regional Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under the modernized appeals system known as the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), which, after conducting a higher-level review of a January 2024 rating decision, denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as depression, anxiety, smoking, drug dependency, and alcohol dependency. In December 2025, the Veteran filed a timely Decision Review Request: Board Appeal (Notice of Disagreement) (VA Form 10182) and selected the evidence submission docket. 

Thus, the Board may only consider the evidence of record at the time of the January 2024 AOJ decision, which was subsequently subject to higher-level review, as well as any evidence submitted by the Veteran with, or within 90 days from receipt of, the VA Form 10182. 38 C.F.R. § 20.303. If evidence was submitted either (1) during the period after the AOJ issued the decision, which was subsequently subject to higher-level review, and prior to the date the Board received the VA Form 10182, or (2) more than 90 days following the date the Board received the VA Form 10182, the Board did not consider it in its decision. 38 C.F.R. §§ 20.300, 20.303, 20.801. However, based on the evidence the Board may consider, service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder is awarded herein, which is a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.

Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. 

Service connection may be granted for a disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service. 38 U.S.C. § 1110; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a). Service connection may also be granted for any disease diagnosed after discharge, when all of the evidence, including that pertinent to service, establishes that the disease was incurred in service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d). Direct service connection may not be granted without evidence of a current disability; in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the present disease or injury. Id.; see also Caluza v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 498, 506 (1995) aff'd, 78 F.3d 604 (Fed. Cir. 1996) [(table)].

Service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) requires medical evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.125(a), which requires a diagnosis that conforms to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), a link, established by medical evidence between current symptoms and an in-service stressor, and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.  38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f). 

Primary diagnosed disabilities of drug or alcohol abuse are not disabilities for which service connection can be granted. 38 U.S.C. § 105; 38 C.F.R. § 3.301. However, service connection may be awarded for an alcohol or drug abuse disability acquired as secondary to
 medical evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.125(a), which requires a diagnosis that conforms to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), a link, established by medical evidence between current symptoms and an in-service stressor, and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.  38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f). 

Primary diagnosed disabilities of drug or alcohol abuse are not disabilities for which service connection can be granted. 38 U.S.C. § 105; 38 C.F.R. § 3.301. However, service connection may be awarded for an alcohol or drug abuse disability acquired as secondary to, or as a symptom of, his or her service-connected disability. Allen v. Principi, 237 F.3d 1368 (Fed. Cir. 2001); 38 C.F.R. § 3.310. In order to qualify for service connection in this regard, the veteran must establish that his alcohol or drug abuse disability is secondary to or is caused by a service-connected disorder. Id. 

The Veteran contends that he has a current acquired psychiatric disorder that is directly related to his military service or, in the alterative, is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus. However, as the Board awards service connection for such disorder on a direct basis, such alternative theory of entitlement need not be addressed.

In this regard, at a November 2025 psychological evaluation, the Veteran reported that he was verbally and physically abused by being called derogatory names and racial slurs, and hit with pillowcases filled with bars of soap while he was covered with a blanket, which he described as a "blanket party," and assaulted someone after that person exposed himself in front his spouse in service. He further indicated that, as a result of such events, he experienced disciplinary issues and used drugs and alcohol to cope with his mental health symptoms during service.  

As an initial matter, the Board observes that the Veteran's May 1972 enlistment examination revealed that his psychiatric clinical evaluation was normal, and he denied experiencing all relevant symptomatology. Therefore, he is presumed psychiatrically sound upon his entrance to service. Additionally, while his service treatment records (STRs) are negative for any complaints, treatment, or diagnoses referable to an acquired psychiatric disorder, his service personnel records (SPRs) revealed that, in September 1973, it was noted that he usually obeys all orders, but he had been placed on report twice for minor infractions as his military appearance was lacking and had been counseled for his shortcomings. Additionally, in February 1974, he received a commanding officer's non-judicial punishment for unlawfully striking another man in the back portion of his neck with a belt and was given extra duty for 7 days. Finally, in May 1975, the Veteran received a commanding officer's non-judicial punishment for failure to obey a lawful order in April 1975. 

After service, at a December 2000 VA examination, a diagnosis of PTSD was rendered and the examiner opined that it was as likely as not that such disorder, which stemmed from an abusive childhood, was aggravated to some extent while the Veteran was in the military. In this regard, she noted that he had the greatest problems with dealing with authority figures; poor self-worth, which was aggravated by his alcohol and drug use during his military service; and his divorce from his spouse after she found out that he was no longer going to be in the military.  

In a November 2025 Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) and related psychological evaluation, S.J., Ph.D., a private clinical psychologist, found that the Veteran met the DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis of unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, and cannabis use disorder, moderate; other stimulant use disorder, severe, in sustained remission; and alcohol use disorder, moderate, in early remission. Notably, he indicated that such disorders were superimposed upon one another and mutually exacerbated one another. 

Dr. S.J. opined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder as likely as not started during his military service and continued to the present. In this regard, he noted that, although the Veteran reported experiencing physical and emotional abuse during his childhood, his entrance examination documented no mental health concerns or impairments at the time of enlistment. He also noted that the Veteran described several stressors and traumatic events that occurred during his military service, to include the aforementioned events, and had resulting disciplinary actions. Dr. S.J. indicated that his depressive and anxious symptoms had their onset in service due to such significant mistreatment, and he began using alcohol and drugs to cope with his mental health symptoms. Here, he explained that the Veteran's service-related experiences appeared
. S.J. opined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder as likely as not started during his military service and continued to the present. In this regard, he noted that, although the Veteran reported experiencing physical and emotional abuse during his childhood, his entrance examination documented no mental health concerns or impairments at the time of enlistment. He also noted that the Veteran described several stressors and traumatic events that occurred during his military service, to include the aforementioned events, and had resulting disciplinary actions. Dr. S.J. indicated that his depressive and anxious symptoms had their onset in service due to such significant mistreatment, and he began using alcohol and drugs to cope with his mental health symptoms. Here, he explained that the Veteran's service-related experiences appeared to have significantly contributed to the development and progression of his current psychiatric symptoms. He determined that the evidence suggested that, while the Veteran had a history of early-life adversity, his reported in-service stressors played a substantial role in the emergence and continuation of his present mental disorder. 

Therefore, based on Dr. S.J.'s opinion, the Board resolves any remaining doubt in favor of the Veteran and finds that his current acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is related to his military service, and his currently diagnosed cannabis use disorder, moderate; other stimulate use disorder, severe, in sustained remission; and alcohol use disorder, moderate, in early remission are proximately due to such acquired psychiatric disorder. Thus, service connection for such disorders is warranted. 38 U.S.C. § 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.102.

 

 

A. JAEGER

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	K. Clark

The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.