u/Ray5546

Hey everyone, I need some guidance on how to move forward with a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review (HLR) after receiving a denial.

Denial Reason Summary:

The VA denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and memory problems). The examiner stated my conditions were "less likely than not" incurred in or caused by military service.

Specific Rationale from Letter:

"You had cannabis use disorder prior to service, you were diagnosed with cannabis use disorder and cannabis induced anxiety disorder. Both conditions exclusively related to the cannabis use which has been present before active duty. These conditions are not related in any way, to the military, or to any in-service stressors."

In addition to pinning everything on cannabis use, the examiner claimed I had cannabis use disorder BEFORE service—which is completely untrue. I never used cannabis prior to enlisting, and my entrance records show no history of it. How do I best attack an examiner's report that relies on a false timeline?

My Questions:

Has anyone successfully overcome a denial where the C&P examiner attributed psychiatric symptoms entirely to pre-service substance use or a pre-existing condition?

Should I pursue an aggravation claim (arguing service made a pre-existing condition worse) or focus on getting an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO/Nexus Letter) to counter the contract examiner's opinion?

What specific evidence or nexus documentation would be most effective here?

Any advice on the best path forward would be appreciated