Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, cocaine use disorder, and/or alcohol use disorder, is denied.

Board reasoning

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and only cocaine and alcohol use disorders, proceeding with a merits analysis to conclude there is no present psychiatric disability linked to service. It relied on the August 2021 VA examination stating no PTSD and recognizing that drug/alcohol abuse in and of itself is not directly service-connected, and that any secondary connection to a non-service-connected disorder could not be established in the absence of a service-connected disability.