The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder, was denied. The Veteran also had her initial rating for urinary incontinence increased to 20 percent from July 24, 2012 to July 7, 2014, but later decreased to 40 percent from July 8, 2014 to September 30, 2014 and then to 60 percent since October 1, 2014. The cervical spine disorder claim was remanded, as was the rating for lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim was also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's self-assessment of having PTSD related to service is not credible and does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD in accordance with DSM-5. Her adjustment disorder with depressed mood was diagnosed by a VA examiner, who concluded it was due to her cerebral aneurysm and financial strain rather than military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder), Cervical spine disorder, Lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18128675
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18128675.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and psychiatric disorder due to incomplete information. The Veteran needs to provide his complete service personnel records, verify his alleged combat experience in Vietnam, and undergo VA examinations for both conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current condition and his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the initial ratings assigned for psoriatic arthritis of the upper and lower extremities, as well as service connection for a cervical spine disorder, need to be remanded due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT) must be confirmed, and all relevant medical records should be obtained.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and lumbar spine disability, as well as left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The effective dates for these conditions are also denied.
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